Kitchen and Food Updates

#44 - Research and acquire a combination blender/food processor (Completed) - Bought a KitchenAid Stand Mixer instead!
#45 - Research and acquire a working immersion blender (Canceled) - Turns out my works! Thought it was broken.
#48 - Try 24 new recipes and blog about them (14/24) - Been cooking, but only posted 3 recipes since the last update.
#55 - Go to 5 new-to-me non-chain restaurants (5/5).  Went to Luna (mexican near us) for my birthday, went to Bella Italia with a doubletakedeal coupon.  Probably went a few other places as well.  This one's done.
#56 - Do pick-your-own fruit (Completed).  Did this through my Strite's CSA. Yummy apples!

#48 - Try 24 new recipes and blog about them (11/24)

I've done 4 new recipes that are posted now.

Amazing Apple Muffins

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

Luscious Lemon Cheesecake

Rich Double Chocolate Torte

The muffins and the oatmeal were both for church functions and the cheesecake and the torte were for Easter Sunday. The Torte I had made a while back, but never managed to pots it for some reason. It was just as delicious as I remembered.

#55 - Go to 5 new-to-me non-chain restaurants (3/5)

Every April, some of the restaurants in Hershey get together for a Restaurant Week event. This usually means some great deals on local fare at the restaurants that will soon be packed with tourists. Mike and I decided to go to The Bears' Den at the Hershey Lodge. The atmosphere is fun and the decor is impressive between the faux rink boards and the section of the wall that looks like the outside of the Hershey Arena. Mike had a Chipotle burger and I had a delicious fish sandwich on ciabatta bread. We ordered from the special restaurant week menu, but there were a ton of moderately-priced items on the full menu as well. Popcorn was provided as a complementary appetizer, so we opted for dessert with our meals instead of more appetizers. The chocolate torte that I had was fabulous and Mike's dessert was delicious as well. All in all, a lovely dinner!

#50 - Buy The Bread Baker's Apprentice

I have "acquired" The Bread Baker's Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread a few weeks ago through one of my survey sites. Score! It arrived super fast and is really a beautiful book. I started reading through the introduction, but I got interrupted and haven't picked it up again. I will make an effort to do so soon!

#46 - Research and acquire a quality kitchen scale

I had heard a lot of good things about the Escali P115C Primo Digital Multifunctional Food Scale from several bloggers that I read.  The reviews were good, and it does all the basic functions while still looking sleek and not taking up much space (ideal in my small kitchen!).  I wasn't quiet ready to buy it yet, so I added it to my amazon wishlist - and I got it for Christmas!  YAY!  Thanks, Mom! :-)

Pictured with my new chopping knife and board from IKEA. 

#55 - Go to 5 new-to-me non-chain restaurants (2/5)

This weekend, Mike and I went to the new Chinese buffet restaurant that is in the Colonial Commons shopping plaza.  It combines Chinese buffet with hibachi with sushi and comes out a winner (okay, so I didn't have any sushi).  I didn't catch the actual name of the place (it is something convoluted), but the food was delicious. 

We had some of everything but went back for seconds on the cheese wontons (as usual), egg rolls, and lo mein. They have hand-dipped ice cream for dessert which was very good as well (we stayed away from the other strange desserts that were next to the oysters).  Lots of options for kids or those who want a more diverse dinning experience: pizza, fries (including sweet potato), a carving station, and more.

The dining area was nice and drink service was prompt and accurate (Mike's Coke-with-no-ice often trips people up, but his order was correct and refilled correctly as well).  The seating areas are divided up to create less of a cafeteria atmosphere and it is executed well while still making it easy to get to the main buffet area.  They have a koi pond/fountain in the lobby that is very beautiful. 

The prices were normal for dinner ($10/person-ish) and lunch is about $6/person I believe.  They also have take-out which is priced out by the pound. 

This might be my new favorite buffet in the area (my old favorite is actually across the street, equally great food, but much more cramped and slightly run down).

#52 - Menu plan every week for an entire month (0/4)

I've been menu planning regularly over at my cooking blog with a record streak of 6 weeks in a row.  I hope to break that streak!  This is completed, though.

#48 - Try 24 new recipes and blog about them (7/24)

I've done 2 new recipes that are posted now.

Kraft Mac and Cheese Pie

Kraft's Taco Bake

Both were very yummy and Mike has requested that they be made again!  I guess I'll be keeping an eye out for sales on mac and cheese.

#48 - Try 24 new recipes and blog about them (5/24)

I've got 2 new recipes posted on my blog.  There was another recipe that I tried for applesauce cake, but it was very strange and I won't be making it again, so it doesn't get posted.

Mexican Lentils

Baked Egg Puffs

#43 - Purge unused kitchen utensils and find alternate storage for ones that are used infrequently

I did this over the weekend in a frenzy of wanting to feel a little more organized and a little less full of "stuff".  I still want Mike to go through the extra utensils to make sure he doesn't use any of them frequently (but I don't think he does).  They are all being freecycled (with the exception of 1 whisk that is going into a kitchen box) along with a bunch of empty spice containers that I have no use for.

#55 - # Go to 5 new-to-me non-chain restaurants (1/5)

Mike and I went to Rancho Grande in Mechanicsburg about two weeks ago.  The place was very rundown looking from outside, but a little nicer inside.  Probably could use a paint job.

Aside from that, the staff was super friendly and attentive.  We both ordered specials (the Rancho Dinner and the Grande Dinner! haha) and were very full by the end of the meal.  I couldn't finish mine at all.  Everything was very good.  The red sauce on the burritos was a little sweeter than I usually like, but still yummy.  The chile relleno was DELICIOUS and I would love to know how they make it.  Even Mike liked it - which means it wasn't toooo spicy. 

However, as it is about a 20 minute drive to get there, and on the way you pass about 3 other mexican restaurants, I don't think we'll go there again unless we are already in the area.

#48 - Try 24 new recipes and blog about them (3/24)

I guess I forgot this was an item because I have now 3 new recipe posts since I started the 1001 days again.

Whole Wheat Cornbread Muffins
These were very good!  I guess I have to stop saying that I don't like cornbread. I am going to make these again soon (Mike likes to have them when I make chili) but I think I will make them with mini hot dogs inside next time.  I read about that somewhere.  Sounds yummy.

Sausage & Cheddar Pinwheels
I made these to take to a church function, but I should have waited and baked them the morning of instead of the night before.  They were a little dry after we heated them up again.  And in the time it took to heat them, we could have just baked them!  But they were still gobbled up with none leftover, so they must have been pretty good!

Banana Pancakes
Sometimes a recipe just grabs you and says MAKE ME I'M DELICIOUS!  That is what happened with these.  They really were delicious and they will definitely be made again - perhaps with chocolate chips next time....