Cookie Stacking and Other Things...

Hello Internet People.  I'm sorry I've been a little absent, but this has been a busy and emotional week.  Therefore, I present to you this scatterbrained post of odds and ends...

Many of you have been curious about the infamous "cookie stacking" Instagram post (infamous, really Siri?).  The origin of this layered dough can be found in this recipe for Peanut Butter Honey Cookies.  I was instantly intrigued to see if by stacking two blobs of dough on top of each other, the result would be a cookie that spread less, as suggested.  Well, perhaps I did something wrong, but my cookies just ended up looking like butts, so... delicious recipe, however.  Honey?  Peanut Butter?  Yes.

Last Thursday I was all set to appear on the Today Show, and you may have caught a glimpse of me even, however, breaking news about the Pope's whereabouts interrupted my segment.  Of course, I didn't mind in the slightest, and it was actually very exciting to witness... yet another reminder of how surreal it is to be a small part of a news institution like Today.  If you're interested in the recipes I was planning on preparing, you may click here: Buffalo Chicken Dip and Ultimate Queso Dip. 

Last night, I was very honored to be a part of the launch of Keurig Kold, a revolutionary new drinkmaker that brews perfectly chilled beverages like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and so, SO much more.  It is available for purchase today on their website... check it out!

And finally, I wanted to repost this recipe in honor of a great woman, Lucy.  If you've been following my blog for awhile then you probably know this sandwich, but to have known the woman behind it was something else.  The heavens above gained a beautiful soul.  Team Lucy forever!

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Baby Brezza: Tropical Smoothie

You know those "first kid, second kid" commercials?  I think that perhaps I write them in my sleep and submit them to the diaper companies.  There is nothing more true than how much your parenting mentality changes from one kid to the next.  Our first kid had only age appropriate toys that I sterilized once every few weeks in a bucket of soapy water.  Our third kid plays with (and sucks on) my car keys.  It's just the way it goes!  Similarly, I made ALL of Jack's baby food.  All of it.  Down to pureed ground lamb, turkey and chicken that I called "meat paste" - oh man, did it look revolting.  Second and third baby?  Well, I definitely made a few things... but those baby food pouches are just SO convenient (enter major mom guilt!).  

However, I always say to new moms: it is SO simple to make homemade baby food.  Chop, steam, blend... it's truly that easy.  You can even make large batches of food at once and freeze individual portions.  Products like the Baby Brezza make the process foolproof.  At the touch of a button, you can steam and blend your food at desired intervals, or you can steam only, blend only, etc.  The other day, I made a smoothie for London with strawberries, mango, banana and yogurt, and with the leftovers I made frozen push-pops for the big kids.  6 thumbs up from them!  I do math!  

Tropical Baby Food Smoothie

(Makes 4 small glasses, or 4 frozen push-pops)

Printable Recipe

1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, roughly chopped

1/2 cup fresh or frozen mango, roughly chopped

1/2 banana, sliced

1/2 cup whole milk yogurt

Place first 3 ingredients into the Baby Brezza.  Choose the 'Steam and Blend Only' feature for 15 minutes.  Once the fruit has been blended, add the yogurt, and choose the 'Blend Only' feature until your desired consistency is reached.  Pour into glasses and place in fridge to cool.  I poured some into push-pop molds and froze for the big kids. 

Found my "Cool Cones" at Michael's, but can also be purchased here.

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Jello Cookies

My little boy had a temperature yesterday, and he overheard the doctor telling us that she lets her own kids "cook" when their fever is low enough.  When we got home, he started asking me what he could make in the kitchen.  It was right before dinner, so I told him it wasn't the best time, until he insisted that the doctor wanted him to COOK.  Um, adorable!  How do you say no to that?  So we jumped on Pinterest and searched for kid cookie ideas.  He picked these Jello Cookies, and I happened to have every ingredient on hand (because my kitchen is a goddamn bakery).  If you ever wonder if everything on Pinterest is as easy and adorable as it looks, the answer is NO.  I couldn't get this dough to come together.  Even after adding milk, it was a crumbly mess.  But I was able to make 5 cookies out of it and Jack was happy, therefore, I'll categorize this as a success (let's pretend that the dinner I was planning on making wasn't totally neglected and I didn't order pizza instead).         

By the way, the lovely people at Alpha Grillers felt badly that they couldn't give ALL of you a Garlic Press & Peeler Set, so they're offering everyone 10% off should you want to buy one on Amazon!  Just use the code SIRIGP10, which is valid between now and December 24th.

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Giveaway: Garlic Press & Peeler

Is there anything worse than your fingers smelling like garlic?  Listen, I LOVE the stuff and overuse it in almost every recipe, and the scent of it cooking on the stove is glorious... but on your fingers for sometimes days afterwards?  No.  However, I've never had great experiences with garlic presses, therefore I usually prefer to chop the stuff myself.  That was the case until recently, when the people at Alpha Grillers (a company that manufactures high-quality kitchen tools available at Amazon) sent me a press and peeler set to review.  First of all, I had never used a peeler before and this one was refreshingly easy.  Just stick the clove into the tube and firmly roll it around with the palm of your hand and voila!  The peel falls off.  No smelly fingers yet.  Now onto the press, which you can tell is high-quality by the feel of it in your hand.  I've encountered so many presses that sort of fall apart when you open them.  Not this one, and look at how much fresh, juicy garlic you're left with... 

The only thing left inside the press is a very thin layer of peel.  I will never try another method again!

On to the the best news: Alpha Grillers is going to give away THREE sets to YOU fine people!  Just comment below to be eligible to win, and make sure to "like" AG on Facebook.  You want to win this giveaway, that is no joke, WIN WIN WIN!!  Good luck and thank you Alpha Grillers! 

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Outdoor Oasis from Kohl's

Happy 4th of July!  What are your plans today?  It's raining here, but that won't stop us from getting outside and grilling some food!  (I mean, we moved to NY from CA in the middle of winter and grilled outside in March, so there you go.)  And look!  My outdoor table is already set!  Thanks to Kohl's, who is sponsoring this post, I am all ready for summer entertaining on the patio.  Plastic dishes and glassware have gotten so chic over the years, and at Kohl's that is no exception.  Check out their Sonoma Outdoors line, where I found these plastic, dishwasher safe and BPA-free plates, bowls and cups, for instance.  I'm also obsessed with the above "bread basket," which I use mostly for fruit.

Thank you Kohl's for having such cute, affordable stuff!  

Have a happy and safe 4th, my friends.    

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Mushroom Crumbs + Food Processor Review

As I mentioned earlier in the week, the department store Kohl's let me pick out a few items to review from their Food Network line of products.  I was like a kid in a virtual candy store trying to choose, but one of the items I finally decided on was this Mini Food Processor (just searched for it online and it might be sold out!) because I didn't own one.  This little guy holds 3 cups of food, has chopping, slicing and shredding options, is dishwasher safe and comes in a bunch of colors (which is usually important to us gals).  I've only tried the chopping function so far but it worked like a dream!    

I used my new food processor to make something I'm going to call Mushroom Crumbs.  Like bread crumbs, only these are mushrooms.  Do you understand?  Great, you're smart.  These would be a great gluten-free alternative to bread crumbs, actually!  But I sprinkled these on top of a hot dog that was placed in a regular old, gluten-packed bun.  It, was, delicious.  All I did was throw some sliced mushrooms into my food processor, chopping them finely.  Then I heated a thin layer of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, tossed the mushroom crumbs in, and lightly fried them for roughly 7 minutes until they got golden brown...       

I removed them from the pan using a slotted spoon, let them rest on some paper towel, and seasoned them with salt and pepper.  Done.  

p.s. Always soak your hot dogs in beer prior to grilling.  ALWAYS.  

**Now remember, this week Kohl's is giving away $500 to a lucky winner.  All you have to do to enter the sweepstakes is tweet about your favorite hot dog topping or show a photo on Instagram, using the handle @Kohls and the hashtag #CookWithKohls.  What a simple way to make yourself eligible... DO IT!  And there's still one day left to enter my $25 Kohl's Giveaway, so do that too.   

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#CookWithKohl's Giveaway!

Have you guys seen the new Food Network line of products at Kohl's??  It's incredible.  Everything from drinkware to small appliances to baking supplies to kitchen decor.  And more.  Kohl's reached out to me (have I mentioned how much I love writing this food blog??) and asked me to review some of these new items, which I will be doing later on this week.  But, in the MEANTIME, they are letting me give one of you a $25 gift card so you can stock your own kitchen with this new line of products!  All you have to do is comment below to win.    

But that's not all!  [Insert "Price is Right" announcer voice here]  Every week, Kohl's is giving away a $500 gift card!  That's way more than $25 (math).  All you have to do to enter the sweepstakes is tweet about or post on Instagram your favorite hot dog topping, which is this week's topic, starting today.  Remember to tag @Kohls and use the hashtag #CookWithKohls in your posts and BAM, you're instantly eligible to win.  Click here for more details, or follow Kohl's on Twitter and Instagram.  And stay tuned for MY favorite hot dog toppings later on this week...

Let's recap: comment below to win $25 (I will pick a winner randomly on Thursday) and get on Instagram and Twitter to enter the sweepstakes for $500.  Good luck my friendly friends!

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Milly & Grace: Pink Cake Stand Giveaway!

Hello Gorgeous.

Before we begin, I have been missing.  Travel, sickness, broken computer, mom-of-two, do I need more commas?  You get it.  Even if you don't get it just say, Siri, I get it.  Say it to your iPhone, and she'll be like, whaa?  (That idiot gets nothing.)  But anyway, I woke up early to bake a little cake.  And once I bake my little cake, I'm going to display it on my new little cake stand:

Is there anything more gorgeous than that?!  Yes.  And I'll tell you what it, this entire website.  A dear friend of mine from college, Tim, recently moved to Nantucket and found himself working at Milly & Grace: a lovely inspired clothing and home decor boutique on the island.  The owner, Emily, named the shop after her two grandmothers, Milly and Grace.  As someone who named her daughter after her own grandmother, I find that very sweet.  If you peruse the online store ("peruse" makes you sound smart), you will find all sorts of items you suddenly "NEED" like I just did.  I mean, this woven plate with glass dome??  I need that.  This is the perfect online shop for unique holiday gifts, my friends.  Check out their Christmas Shop and Gift sections, and you will understand why.

Are you ready for the best news?  Emily is giving away a 10-inch pink cake stand to one of YOU!  All you need to do to win is 'like' Milly & Grace on Facebook and comment below, letting me know what else you love on their site.  I will pick a winner on Monday, 11/18 at 8am PST.  (Only residents of US and Canada eligible to win.)  Good luck and thanks, Milly & Grace!    

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Sigh...

Where have I been?  Just staring at my new oven.  Licking the stainless steel.  Attempting to sleep in it JUST KIDDING KIDS DON'T TRY THAT.  What sort of baked good should break it in???  It must be worthy.  Help. 

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Bye Bye Oven.

Last night, I used our oven for the very last time.

Look at that thing!  Can you believe that everything I have baked, broiled, roasted, etc., for this blog has been in that oven?  Please notice the knobs, and the buttons, and the dials.  And what you can't tell from the picture is how tiny it is.  I've literally had to borrow baking dishes from the Keebler Elves because nothing else would fit.  But is it slightly bittersweet?  Yes.  I discovered my true passion with that oven.  I developed awesome recipes in that oven, and burnt others to a crisp.  I've rejoiced with that oven, and cursed it to hell and back.  Now, it's time to say goodbye.  And since I've gotten out all that sentimental stuff I can safely say...

GOODBYE STUPID OVEN GO BACK TO THE ENCHANTED FOREST WITH THE ELVES WHERE YOU BELONG.        

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