#75 - Bake a cake in my cross pan.

This I did. Kind of. Apparently the directions I followed were wrong and didn't properly compensate for the cake rising... rising... rising out of the can pan, onto the cookie sheet it was on, and then over and to the bottom of the oven.

Well, to put it nicely, it was disastrous. I am debating trying again or just giving the pan away on freecycle. Leaning towards the latter at this point.

#72 - Try 12 new recipes (and actually use the recipe). (12/12)

I got a bread machine a few weeks ago from someone on craigslist. Since I got it, I've made bread twice using 2 different recipes. The first loaf was regular white bread on the super-quick setting (58 minutes). It turned out pretty well. The second loaf was Garlic Herb bread on the basic (3 hour) setting. You can really tell the difference in the timing when you look at the crumb of the bread! Anyway, I'm counting this as 2 recipes for this item because I didn't modify them at all.

As the last recipe that I made without any modifications, I'm going to count the pumpkin rolls that I made for thanksgiving. They went over really well. Here's a picture:


They are very rich, though, so they probably would have been better served at another time than Thanksgiving. Here's the recipe: http://memarielane.com/2007/11/13/how-to-make-a-rolled-cake/

#73 - Try 5 new non-chain restaurants. (5/5)

I took my mom to Tuscano for lunch yesterday for her birthday. We both had paninis (which, we pointed out were not technically paninis because they were on rolls instead of bread, but they were fantastic anyway) and we split an order of french fries and then had a slice of Crazy Carrot Cheesecake and a slice of some sort of awesome berry cake. Both were awesome. Both were shared. Much other awesomeness was had.

Would I go there again? Possibly. The prices were good and I only ate half of my sandwich (I just finished the second half now for lunch today). For drinks, sandwiches, fries, and desserts for 2 it was about $35 with tax and tip. Not bad considering we were splurging a lot.

#73 - Try 5 new non-chain restaurants. (4/5)

After my tap recital in May, Dad took us out to eat at Rock Bass Grill. It is really nice and has a country club feel to it. The seafood was awesome as were their various renderings of potatoes (all the fries, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes were awesome). Dad ordered a bottle of Riesling to go along with our food which was awesome because Rieslings are one of my favourite kinds of wine. Everyone else in the family had been there before except for me, so I had lots of advice on what to get. I had swordfish, but I also tried everyone else's food, so it was like a seafood buffet!

#72 - Try 12 new recipes (and actually use the recipe). (9/12)

I made Strawberry Freezer Jam using the recipe from inside the box of Certo (which is a liquid pectin). I followed it really closely because I was afraid of messing something up with the set. I haven't eaten any yet, but it is sitting in my freezer ready to try after I finish up the last jam I made. Making spreads is fun.

#72 - Try 12 new recipes (and actually use the recipe). (8/12)

Someone on one of the LJ communities I follow posted a link to HillbillyHouseWife and I spent some time checking it out. This specific recipe caught my eye:

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/sausagecheeseballs.htm

When the butcher at Karns has loose sausage on sale, I always hesitate because the only thing I end up doing with it is browning it and throwing it in spaghetti sauce. This recipe seemed like a great way to put some of it to good use. (and they are awesomely yummy)

Sausage Cheese Balls

* 1-1/2 cups Biscuit Mix (Bisquick)
* 1 pound bulk turkey sausage
* 3 or 4 cups of shredded cheese

Get out a big bowl. Measure the Biscuit Mix and cheese into the bowl. Add the raw sausage. Use your hands to mix everything together like meatloaf.

It is sort of gooey, but the finished product is worth a little goo. Shape the mixture into small balls the size of walnuts or egg yolks. Place them on a cookie sheet and bake at 350° for 25 minutes.

Remove them from the oven and drain them on paper towels. These are best when they are still warm, but are still rather tasty cold. Makes about 75.

#72 - Try 12 new recipes (and actually use the recipe). (7/12)

I had extra strawberries leftover from our Mothers' Day celebration, so I decided to try my hand at this recipe. I halved it, but did make the recipe. It turned out very well and made about 2 jars of jam.


Strawberry Jam

4 cups mashed strawberries
4 cups sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
You basically mix all three ingredients together, bring them to a rolling boil for about 10 minutes. Check the temp to make sure it reaches 220 degrees (F). Then place the mixture into sterilized mason jars.

#72 - Try 12 new recipes (and actually use the recipe). (6/12)

I also made these on Sunday at the request of my boyfriend, Mike. I had threatened him with making them without any nuts what with walnuts being so expensive right now, but I ended up caving and getting walnuts anyway. Turned out that probably 1/2 cup of walnuts would have been enough. 1 cup was really too many. Did not do the optional espresso/coffee.

INGREDIENTS
3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tbsp espresso or strong coffee (optional)
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cup of flour
1 cup chopped walnuts (toasted or raw)


No need for a mixer with this recipe.

1) Preheat the oven to 350°F. With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the
mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl.
2) Mix in the sugar, egg, espresso and vanilla.
3) Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in.
4) Add the flour, mix until it is just incorporated. Fold in the
chopped walnuts.
5) Pour mixture into a prepared muffin tin. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Check for doneness with a toothpick inserted into the center of a
muffin. If it comes out clean, it's done. Cool on a rack.

Makes 12 muffins.

source: http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/004229banana_nut_muffins.php

#72 - Try 12 new recipes (and actually use the recipe). (5/12)

Sunday, I was on a bit of a baking spree. I made this yummy "Easy Lemon Pudding Cake". I got the recipe from an online-friend of mine. It turned out really well, but I have GOT to figure out where the lemon zest is in the store. I zested my own lemon this time. It was easy to throw together and would have been good with some summer berries on the side (raspberries would have been the best, I think).

Here's the recipe:

INGREDIENTS
Cake
- 1 cup flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup milk (or soy milk)
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp lemon zest
- juice of 1 lemon

Sauce
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 cup boiling water
- juice of 2 lemons

METHOD
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Get water boiling in a kettle.
1. (cake) Whisk together flour, sugar, powder, soda, and salt in a
bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk together soy milk, oil, zest, and lemon
juice. Add to flour and stir with a spoon until just mixed. Pour into
a 8 x 8 pan and spread evenly.
2. (sauce) Whisk together sugar and flour, then sprinkle evenly over batter.
3. Pour boiling water and lemon juice over top. Do not stir.
4. Bake for 40-45 mins, until top is golden and cake is cooked through.

#73 - Try 5 new non-chain restaurants. (3/5)

After the St. Patrick's Day Parade yesterday, Mike, Mom & I met up with the rest of the Tap Pups at a very nice bar/restaurant in Harrisburg - Stocks on Second. Mom and I had drinks and then we got a table and ordered dinner and an appetizer. Everything was delicious and we left full & happy. Prices were a bit high, but definitely worth it (helps that mom treated us. :-).

#72 - Try 12 new recipes (and actually use the recipe). (4/12)

This afternoon, I whipped up a batch of Chocolate Chip Muffins. I got to use muffin pan that I got for Christmas for the first time. I used muffin cups to reduce the clean-up. I really hate cleaning muffin pans. They turned out really well - very rich, though. Probably only need about half the chocolate chips.

Ingredients:
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/3 cup light-brown sugar
* 1/3 cup sugar
* 2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2/3 cup milk
* 1/2 cup butter -- melted and cooled
* 2 eggs - beaten
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 package (12 oz) chocolate chips
* 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans -- chopped (optional)


Preheat oven to 400 F. and grease up twelve muffin cups.

In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, stir together milk, eggs, butter, and vanilla until blended. Make a well in center of dry ingredients; add milk mixture and stir just to combine. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

Spoon batter into muffin cups; bake 15-20 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center of one muffin comes out clean. Remove muffin tin to wire rack; cool 5 minutes and remove from tins to finish cooling.

Serve warm.

(Source: http://66.206.5.232/superdisplay.asp?recipeid=239)

#72 - Try 12 new recipes (and actually use the recipe). (3/12)

Tonight I made a nice big pot of chicken soup with rice. I used better-than-bullion to make the broth, but I stuck to the recipe so that I ended up with the correct final product. I could have stood to add more water and broth, but now I have a much more hearty soup and I've got enough for lunch every day this week.

Here's the recipe:

http://www.grouprecipes.com/7442/good-old-chicken-with-rice-soup.html

Ingredients

* 8 cups chicken broth
* 1 onion, chopped
* 2 stalks celery, diced
* 2 carrots, diced
* 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 cup uncooked rice
* 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
* 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
* salt and pepper (to taste)


Directions

1. Combine broth, onion, celery, carrots and garlic in a large soup pot.
2. Bring to a boil.
3. Add rice and thyme.
4. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Add chicken and heat through.
6. Thin with more broth if necessary.
7. Add salt and pepper to taste.

#72 - # Try 12 new recipes (and actually use the recipe). (2/12)

If you've ever been to Red Lobster and had their cheesy biscuits, you know that they are pretty much the best reason for going to Red Lobster. Well, I did a search for Red Lobster biscuits recipes and I found this one. When I made it, I halved it, but I'm still counting it as following the recipe because I didn't change anything. Seriously, Mike and I could probably have eaten 12, but we shouldn't. Next time, I'm going to make a full batch and see if they freeze okay. I was really pleasantly surprised how close these were to the real thing. Very awesome. And they took like 2 minutes to throw together and baked while I was finishing up with the meat sauce & the pasta.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2 c. Bisquick
2/3 c. milk
1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 c. butter
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Mix Bisquick and cheese; add milk. Spoon on an ungreased cookie sheet
(makes about 12). Bake at 425 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Brush with
melted butter and garlic powder.

#72 - # Try 12 new recipes (and actually use the recipe). (1/12)

I thought I had written about this, but apparently not! Over the summer, my family had a get-together. For the life of me, I can't remember what the special occasion was! Anyway, I decided to make zucchini pancakes. My grandmother had given me the recipe (who knows why!) and it is still on my fridge. I don't think I'd ever make them again, but they were good. Just a bit too much trouble. Grating zucchini is not something I ever want to do for fun in my free time. They turned out pretty good, but probably weren't meant for traveling. Not everyone liked them, but they certainly did eat them all! I think there were a few leftover, but mom had them for lunch the next day.

I followed the recipe with no alterations, though! That was the main goal.

#74 - Use my fondue pot

For our family New Years Eve celebration, I decided it was finally time to open my fondue pot that I got almost 4 years ago! We had 2 different fondues - cheese and chocolate. The cheese fondue I did with no problems. We had pretzels, bread cubes, multi-grain tortilla chips, and sausage chunks to dip. It was very yummy and I think we ate almost every drop! I just used the simple white sauce recipe with the "cheddar cheese modification".

The chocolate fondue we had a bit more of a problem. Well, first of all, there wasn't enough. I had a pre-packaged thing that you just heat up and - viola - fondue! But it barely covered the bottom of the fondue pot and the ravenous masses were starting to lick their lips, so we decided to add some chocolate baking chips. It was okay until Mom suggested we add some half-and-half. Oops, adding cold milk to warm chocolate made the whole thing seize up. Mom took over from there and un-siezed it and it was very yummy. We dipped banana, apple, oranges, pretzels, and marshmallows (regular and strawberry). We didn't finish it all, but having a leftover lump of chocolate certainly wasn't a bad thing. :-P

The whole process was way easy and I plan on doing it again soon!

#73 - Try 5 new non-chain restaurants. (2/5)

The last day of work before Christmas, my boss took us all to Fiesta Mexico - a new Mexican restaurant in the area. It is, however, run by the same family that runs a local chain called El Rodeo. The menu and prices at Fiesta Mexico are very similar to El Rodeo, however, the atmosphere is very different at Fiesta Mexico. It is much more of a laid-back, may-I-please-take-your-order-sir type of restaurant. The restaurant itself is very spacious and there is plenty of room between tables. They did a great job of accommodating our large group (14).

#73 - Try 5 new non-chain restaurants. (1/5)

On Friday night, Mike and I went to Evergreen Chinese Buffet which is off of the Union Deposit Road exit on I-83. My co-workers had raved about the place, so I figured we should finally try it - especially since we were thinking Chinese for dinner already.

Honestly, I wasn't that impressed. It's not more special or better than any of the other Chinese buffet places in the area, and it's hard to get to and kinda run down. I'd rather just go to the place that is up on 22 or something. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't worth the extra trouble. It was $9.95 or something per person which is also normal for the area - especially for a weekend night (Although, JUMBO Buffet is more expensive... but they are JUMBO).

But, I completed a fifth of this "thing" and I didn't even do it on purpose!