Concentrics Summer Swag

It's that time again... Concentrics Restaurants has issued their Summer Swag!  From Monday, June 6, to Thursday, September 1, you can enjoy 50% off at any of their seven Atlanta-area restaurants.  The hard part is choosing which one to try first!



{ Just a photo, not the actual coupon.  Get yours here! }

 There are a few restrictions, but not many.  Details, terms, conditions and the actual certificate to print are on their website.  { Can you tell I occasionally write legal copy at work? }

Now.  Go get your swag on.  "Take a look in the mirror, say what's up..."

{ That means you, Maude. }

The Weeknight Cook

One of my favorite shower gifts when we got married last year was this cookbook.  It's gotten more use in the last year than others I've had for a decade!  While I probably qualify as a cookbook collector, I'm definitely happy when I find one that's not just pretty... but practical.  This one's a winner on both fronts.

"The Weeknight Cook" is divided into a number of sections and bound with a three-ring binder.  Which means you can move your favorites right to the front.  No more sticky notes peeking out from the binding, like most of my other cookbooks.  With this one, I can find exactly what I want in two seconds flat.  And while some of the recipes in here are more complex than others, I've yet to come across one that's intimidating.

On Saturday, Spencer chose dinner.  And what he wanted was the first thing I ever made out of this cookbook... sausage lasagna.  I like that I can make it in three loaf pans and freeze two, instead of making one giant 9 x 13 we'd never finish.  Which means we get three meals and I only have to cook once!

The original recipe calls for 1.5 lbs of sausage, and while I know Spencer wouldn't complain about more meat, I've gotta get some veggies in there.  A few tweaks, and you have our favorite lasagna.  Some for now, some for later... and it's always good!

Sausage & Vegetable Lasagna

{ Pretend there are two zucchini here... one was hiding in the fridge. }

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 2 medium squash, sliced
• 2 medium zucchini, sliced
• Mushrooms would be good as well, but I didn't have any on hand. : )
• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 jar tomato-basil pasta sauce
• 1 lb lasagna noodles { no-cook or traditional }
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Primary Equipment

• Large, deep skillet or frying pan
• 2 medium glass bowls
• Either (1) a 9 x 13 baking dish or (2) a glass loaf pan and 2 aluminum loaf pans

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400*.
• Head 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add onion and cook, stirring often, until translucent { about 7 minutes }.

• { If using noodles that require boiling, here's your chance to prepare them according to package directions and set aside on wax paper.  If using no-cook noodles, no additional prep is necessary. }
• Add zucchini and squash to skillet and cook until slightly softened, an additional 5 minutes.

• When vegetables are done, transfer from skillet to bowl and set aside.
• Return pan to heat and add remaining tablespoon of olive oil.
• Add sausage and saute until brown, about 10 minutes.

• While sausage is cooking, stir ricotta, nutmeg and milk together in a bowl and set aside.

• When sausage is finished, set aside 1/4 of meat in a bowl and reserve for use in final layer of lasanga.
• Starting from the bottom up, assemble into your pan{s} of choice following the pattern below, without overlapping noodles.  { If using noodles that require boiling, you may need to cut them into thirds in order to fit.  One length of Ronzoni Healthy Harvest lasanga noodles will cover each layer if a loaf pan when cut into thirds.  You'll need three full lengths of Ronzoni per layer if using a 9 x 13. }

• { If using aluminum pans to have for later, wrap tightly in aluminum foil and freeze for up to 2 months.  To reheat, bake frozen lasagna at 425* for 45 minutes covered, ten uncovered. }
• If you're eating it tonight... cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.  Uncover and bake ten more minutes, until cheese is golden brown and bubbly.

• Serve warm with a chiffonade of fresh basil, if desired.

I hope you like it as much as we do.  The best part is popping one out of the freezer next week and having a homemade meal without actually having to cook!

Spicy Sweet Potato Chips

I didn't grow up eating sweet potatoes.  Mom and Dad aren't fans, so it's just one of those things I was told I wouldn't like.  Along with guacamole.  { Yum and wrong on both counts. }

Then I came across a coupon for frozen sweet potato fries.  They were delicious. But there were no more coupons to be had.  And as good as they are, they are really expensive.  { And honestly, they're not all that good for you... they are fried, after all.  } So with a little experimenting... now we make our own spicy sweet potato chips instead.  Spencer is happy because the grocery budget stays in line and I'm happy because they're quick, easy, and it's one more vegetable I can add to our repertoire.

Spicy Sweet Potato Chips

{ Shown here alongside one of our favorite Turkey Burgers }

Ingredients

• 2 large sweet potatoes
• 3 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• Seasoned Salt

Equipment

• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Food processor or mandoline (optional)
• Large bowl
• Teaspoon measure
• Tablespoon measure
• 2 baking sheets
• Tongs or spatula

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400*.
• Scrub sweet potatoes under cold running water to remove any dirt.
• Slice off pointed ends of each sweet potato and discard.  The blunt end of the potato should be approximately 1" in diameter.
• Using a mandoline or food processor, slice sweet potatoes into 1/4" disks.  A large, sharp knife can also be used, but I don't have a good track record with dense vegetables and sharp knives. : )  The important thing is just that the slices be the same thickness in order to cook evenly.  Slices that are too thin will burn before the others are done.
• Toss slices with remaining ingredients in a large bowl until evenly coated.

• Arrange slices in a single layer on { ungreased } baking sheets.  I usually need two pans.

• Bake for ten minutes, remove from oven, and use tongs or a spatula to flip each slice.
• Return to the oven for an additional ten minutes, or until chips are golden brown and crispy.

• Serve warm and enjoy!

Flashback Friday

At present, I'm dying for one of these.

Mostly because I have one of these.  It's a loaner that doesn't work very well, used to belong to someone else { whose dog clearly confused it with a chew toy } and it's getting on my nerves.

{ Bertha is not nearly this shiny. }

Rumor has it that in the next few weeks I'll be able to trade in Bertha the Blackberry for an iPhone.  { Just a little while longer, Bertha!  You can do it! }  Something about our corporate email being transferred over to a new system.  Now I don't know what that means, but I hope it happens soon.  Then people who call will hear more than every other word that I say.  { Oh and I can play Angry Birds. NBD. }

Here I am complaining about carrying a relatively small and lightweight piece of technology, and it wasn't that long ago there were only these.

{ Yeah, Zack Morris! }

Yes, the cell phone has come a long way.  As has personal music.  Remember these?

I definitely had this exact little red Walkman.  With little red headphones.  I think Santa Claus brought it to me along with a cassette tape of  the soundtrack to The Little Mermaid.  This baby was a lifesaver when driving from south Florida all the way to middle Georgia.  { Nine hours in an Astro van with two kids and a dog. Entertainment was essential.  Sorry, Mom, for singing NKOTB all the way to Ocala that one time. }

And when my tape player died, I got one of these.

I'm pretty sure I thought I was a rockstar when Santa moved into the 20th century.  { I did love the Star Stage, after all. }  You just had to hold on tight if we hit a bump or your *NSYNC CD might skip.

And in college I caved and bought one of these.  My roommate had one and I was jealous.

Kmart in Athens was going out of business and I think I paid $50 for the thing.  And that was the sale price.  { Now the old Kmart is a Hobby Lobby.  Major improvement! }  I ran up and down Milledge Avenue wearing my sorority t-shirt and this hip little radio.  Too bad it was so heavy and would always manage to scoot it's way down to my elbow every five minutes.  { The three times I ran on Milledge, that is. }

Everything just keeps getting smaller and faster and fancier.  Maybe Bertha's not so bad after all. : )

The Great Cake Debate

Did you know that red velvet cake is really just colored chocolate cake? { GASP. } Now, I am not so much a lover of chocolate cake.  Heresy for someone who likes to bake, I know.  I can pass up chocolate cake all day long and not bat an eye.  But put a red velvet cupcake in front of me and I can't say no.  It comes with cream cheese frosting!  Nothing that comes with cream cheese frosting can be bad.

A few girls in my office got into a debate last week regarding chocolate cake versus red velvet cake.  As the resident office-baker-wannabe, they called me in to mediate.  { Via Twitter.  While riding the shuttle bus.  I love technology. } And I'm more than happy to oblige, ladies.  This is my kind of assignment!

But how does one settle this great cake debate and determine if red velvet cake is indeed better than classic chocolate cake?  Or heck, can anyone even tell the difference?  I'm thinking that a blind taste test is in order.

I intend to bake a big ol' batch of miniature chocolate cupcakes and miniature red velvet cupcakes, both with identical cream cheese frosting.  { Please.  I paid attention in middle school science.  I know you can only test one variable at a time.  Even if my mom and sister, the teachers of the family, are probably laughing at me right now. I'm at least trying to make this legit. }

So now the question is... do we compare scratch recipes or should I use the same brand of box mix for more consistency?  What would you do? Do you have a recipe we should use? { And if you're in the office, do you want in? }

Photo Credits: Red Velvet Cake and Chocolate Cake

Sweet Daydreams

I think it's fair to say that most of us daydream about what we'd do with if we had more spare time.  I'd bet common answers are things like sleep, working out and other useful, productive things.

Me?  My daydreams most often involve butter and sugar... and preferably brown sugar.  { Sugar + Molasses = Yum. Amen and amen. } Which probably means I should be making more time to work out, not more time to bake. But then again I think everyone could use a little more butter and brown sugar in their life and I rationalize that really, I'm just trying to make the world a better place.  Everyone deserves a little something sweet.

And how about these somethings!  I will make all of these at some point soon.  I may just have to take a vacation day to do it. : )

{ Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes by Becky Bakes }



{ Pam Anderson's Apple Upside Down Biscuits, via Pioneer Woman.  And no, not that Pam Anderson. }

{ Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes by Annie's Eats }

Plus, there's a dessert that's been haunting me since I went to Dallas a few weeks ago.  We ate dinner at a great little place called Hibiscus and the food was stellar.  I had the Spec Americano & Crispy Goat Cheese, followed by Texas Wagyu Bistro Steak { and a bite of a coworker's Osso Bucco, OMG } and we all shared their Icebox Pie.

Now, fancy goat cheese and Osso Bucco seems a bit out of my league.  But the Icebox Pie was unreal and far more attainable.  "Crushed Butterfinger, vanilla ice cream, Oreo cookie crust and chocolate ganache."  That I can { and will } do.  Any taste testers out there? : )

Flashback Friday

Outside of the Fintstones, this was the best prehistoric show ever.

[ DINOSAURS! }

Katie even had a stuffed animal {dinosaur? } of the Baby.  With a pull string.  It said things like "NOT THE MAMA!"  Which meant so did Katie.  At least she didn't hit me with a frying pan.

And here's a fun fact for your Friday.  Kevin Clash, the voice of Baby, is also the voice of Elmo.  Thanks to him, I definitely still remember most of the words to this...

If I Were A Kid...

If I were a kid, I'd totally want this birthday party.  Or if I had a kid, I'd totally throw this birthday party.  Almost makes me want to have a kid, to throw a party like this.  { Not exactly a rational reason to bring a child into this world, I know.  Sigh.  One day I'll be ready for all that a baby brings and not just the birthday parties.  In the mean time, I'll enjoy uniterrupted sleep at night. }

Either way, cooking and parties.  My favorite things.  Yes, please!

{ Images courtesy of Hostess With The Mostess. }

I'd definitely do the giant cubby chef cutout.  And then I'd give in to the temptation to speak like the Swedish Chef.

Flashback Friday

Embarassingly enough, Spencer and I have started to DVR a show called "Pawn Stars" on the History Channel.  { Go ahead, laugh. } His parents watch it, my parents watch it... and it's pretty funny to see what people will bring in and try to sell.  Think "Antiques Roadshow" with the tatooed drama of something like "West Coast Customs."

We watched an episode the other night that had a woman who brought in these:

{ Photo courtesy of Dr. Eeyore's Hospital. Who knew Eeyore was a doctor? }

You guessed it.  An original 1985 Teddy Ruxpin and his buddy, Grubby.  I about did a backflip.  "OMG I STILL HAVE THOSE! They're somewhere in the cedar chest upstairs at Mom and Dad's!"  Turns out that Teddy and Grubby are only worth about $100 between the two of them, but they might be worth more someday.  Maybe.  And mine will have the added benefit of warding off moths for centuries.

While reminiscing about the way my poor Teddy Ruxpin's tape used to drag and his speech would slur { poor Teddy } was fun, the better part was in the conversation that followed.  Walk with me down memory lane.  Remember Popples?


{ Copyright StarSprinkles, or so it says.  More likely Those Characters From Cleveland, Inc.}

 How about that creepy three-foot tall talking Cricket doll like my sister had?

{ Who knew she had a brother?  He looks like Chucky! }

And then Katie starts sending me clips of old TV commercials for things we used to love.  Like Dunkaroos!

Oh heck yeah.  The vanilla ones were the best.  I'm really loving this.  And in the interest of nostalgia, I think I'll start a Friday tradition of posting something to reminisce about.

Did you have a Teddy Ruxpin? Popples? Or maybe a creepy talking Cricket, like Katie?  And the all-important question inquiring minds want to know... when it comes to Dunkaroos, vanilla or chocolate? : )

Summer Reading

I started this post on an airplane somewhere over Tennessee.  { And I still can't wrap my head around the fact that that's possible.  Or the fact that I just used two consecutive "thats" in a sentence.  Is that even grammatically permissible?  I digress.  I hate when my brain changes tracks like that.  Back to the matter at hand. }
I had my computer up because I'd just finished a really good book, I have a 30-day wifi pass on Delta { hooray! }, and I'd already read this month's Sky magazine.  But about the book I just finished.  SO GOOD.  Not my usual style, either.  I bought it on a whim at The Book Stop while looking for the sequel to The Hunger Games.

The Devil In The White City is an account of the 1893 Columbian Exposition { World's Fair } in Chicago.  See, I told you it doesn't sound like my kind of book.  But one of the reviews on the back made by buy it: "so good, you'll find yourself asking how you could not know this already."  And they were right.

The Fair celebrated the anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America.  It was a feat of engineering and a testament to a city { and a nation } that pulled together in the midst of an economic crisis and insurmountable odds.  Faced with the task to "out-Eiffel Eiffel" and the tower he'd built at the previous World's Fair in Paris, Daniel Burnham assembled the brightest minds and thousands of workmen to transform an area of Chicago into a white wonderland.

At every turn, the book gives coincidental backstory on a surprising number of things we're familiar with today.  I had no idea that the Fair gave us Columbus Day, shredded wheat, Cracker Jacks, the Ferris Wheel and Juicy Fruit.  And you come across Helen Keller, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Elias Disney {Walt and Roy's dad } in the process.

But in the midst of the construction of the "White City", as the Fair was known, a more sinister force was at work.  The massive influx of people allowed men like H.H. Holmes a surge of potential victims.  If you like "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo", this is a little like that { though far less graphic }.

I read at least half of this book thinking that it was a novel.  That's when I found the categorization on the back cover { history } and dug deeper.  Everything in the book that appears in quotation marks is an actual quote from a letter, telegram, memoir or court document.  It's a history book that reads like a novel.  You won't be able to put it down!

Next up on my list is the second book in The Hunger Games { Catching Fire }, followed by One Day and The Paris Wife.  But at the rate I'm going these days, and some upcoming travel, I sure could use some recommendations.

What's on your reading list for the summer?

PS - Devil in the White City is being made into a movie for release next year... with Leonardo DiCaprio starring as Daniel Burnham!

Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried green tomatoes.  What's not to love?  The movie is a southern classic and filmed just up the road from my parents' house in Juliette, GA.  The Whistle Stop Cafe actually still stands there today.  And if you've ever seen the movie, then you'll understand why my bridesmaids gave me a roll of plastic wrap.

{ Sorry, Mom. }

Now of course, the film's namesake dish doesn't exactly get all the spotlight in the movie.  Another, shall we say, recipe does.  But when my recent visit to Macon resulted in my returning with green tomatoes... well, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

A little research and a little experimenting later... behold!  Something I always deemed too difficult to make.  Darn good fried green tomatoes!  Panko bread crumbs make for an excellent crunch, superior to the corn meal versions in my opinion.  And Cajun seasoning gives them a good bite.

PS - if you ever visit the Whistle Stop Cafe, I might steer clear of the BBQ. :)

{ I definitely ate two before taking this picture.  Oops. }

Fabulous Fried Green Tomatoes

Yield: Appetizer-sized servings for 4

Ingredients

• 2 large green tomatoes, ends removed, cut into 1/4" slices
• 3/4 cup flour
• Fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 1/2 cups plain panko { Japanese-style } bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

Equipment

• 3 medium shallow bowls
• Cast iron skillet { or other heavy-bottomed frying pan }
• Stainless steel tongs { plastic ones might melt! }

Directions

1. Prepare yourself a dredging assembly line of sorts.  In first bowl, combine flour, both peppers and seasoned salt.  Pour buttermilk into a second bowl.  Then, mix bread crumbs and Cajun seasoning into a third bowl.
2. One slice at a time, coat both sides of tomatoes in flour mixture, then buttermilk, then bread crumbs.  Pat down to ensure adequate coverage for crunch.
3. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat to 350*.  Now if you're like me and don't have a thermometer up to the job... here's a trick.  Find a wooden spoon.  Dip just the tip of the handle in your hot oil.  If it bubbles almost immediately, you're good to go.
4. Transfer breaded tomatoes to skillet using tongs and fry in batches, 2-3 minutes per side.  Gently remove tomatoes when done and place on paper towel-lined plate to drain.
5. Serve warm, with goat cheese and a chiffonade of basil if desired.

Or you could just eat them straight of the paper towel-lined plate, like me.  And then call your neighbors to come get some so you don't single-handedly eat them all.  Not that I did.  Eat them all, I mean.  I did actually call the neighbors.

Now... what to do with leftover buttermilk.  Biscuits, anyone?

Green Acres

I've talked about Deer Creek Farms before.  Love that place.  And they have way more than just strawberries.

Like squash!  Which I bought and used to make Pasta Primavera the other night when Spencer went to a Braves Game.  I've gotten him to eat zucchini, but not squash.  Not yet at least.

They do have zucchini, though.  And not just any zucchini, mind you.  Henry and Lewis were all too happy to show off their gargantuan find.  Sadly, it will not fit on my grill.  No ma'am.

And then there are these babies.

No, they aren't raspberries.  They're blackberries!  Big, beautiful blackberries.  That served as the inspiration for the Pocket Pies I blogged about over at Healthy Happier yesterday.

When Mom and I stopped by, Amy mentioned that when they had been picking the day before, she and the kids had found tiny little blue and brown speckled eggs in a nest among the vines.  So of course I wanted to see.  But instead of eggs, here's what we found.

{ Can you see? }

{ MOM.  The meatloaf! }

Teeny, tiny baby mockingbirds!  Less than 24 hours old and no bigger than a chicken egg.  I took about as many pictures as I could, trying not to disturb them.  And then their Momma came back.  I don't think she liked us lingering around her babies.  Guess I don't really blame her.  If I (a) had babies and (b) saw a godzilla-sized creature wielding a large black object near them I'd be squawking, too.

Does anyone know of a place like this in the metro Atlanta area?  I'm all about fresh, local produce and I've never been to DeKalb Farmer's Market or anywhere like that.  Recommendations gladly accepted!

Easy As Pie

If you're here from Healthy Happier, hello and welcome! If not, you can still download the recipe for Blackberry Pocket Pies.  Just click to save or print the PDF.

{ Yum. }

As promised... homemade pie crust!  It's not nearly so hard as people would have you think.  I'm certainly not a pastry chef, so if I can do it you can do it.  I'm convinced it's one of those things that folks want to keep feeling like it belongs to the most elite of cooks.  Not so.  I say pie crust for everyone! : )

Basic Pie Crust

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup Splenda or confectioner's sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest (about one lemon worth)
• 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon cold butter-flavored shortening (i.e., Crisco); cut into small cubes
• Ice water (likely 1/4 cup)

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• Sifter
• Pastry cutter
• Liquid measuring cup
• Plastic wrap

Directions

• Fill a measuring cup with ice cubes and cold water.  Place in fridge to cool.
• Sift flour, Splenda and salt into bowl.

• Add lemon zest, but do not stir.
• Using the pastry cutter { or your hands, if you don't have one }, cut shortening into flour mixture.  The downside to using your hands is that the shortening gets warm and sticky, when you need shortening to stay cold and form crumbles, so work quickly.

• Here's where it gets a little dicey, but you can do it.  Get your ice water from the fridge and sprinkle about one tablespoon over flour mixture.  Using your fingers, gently turn the flour mixture over the water droplets to moisten it.  You're not mixing, though, just exposing the flour to the water.
• Repeat sprinkling and moistening process until you've used about a quarter cup of the water and the dough begins to come together into a ball.  It shouldn't be sticky { that means too much water, so add a bit of flour }.

{ Not quite... }

{ Bingo. }

• Carefully pat the dough into a ball, wrap securely in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.  It's the perfect opportunity to make the filling of your choice.

Speaking of filling, I promised you Apple Cinnamon!  And it's even easier than the blackberry.

Apple Cinnamon Pocket Pie Filling

Ingredients

• One Granny Smith apple; cored, peeled and grated
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Splenda Brown Sugar Blend (or traditional brown sugar)
• 1 tablespoon frozen or very cold butter; grated

Equipment

• Paring knife, for peeling and slicing apple
• Box grater, for apple and butter
• Mixing Bowl
• Spoon

Directions

• Combine all ingredients and mix well.  For pies, follow from Step 5 to completion as described in Blackberry Pocket Pies.
• Great when topped with a glaze! Mix 1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon melted butter and add milk one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.  Drizzle over pies and allow to dry.