So.. today is my company’s annual “Day in the Park.” Office closes at 11:30 and we all go to a park in Folsom and have a BBQ, play some weird games, which always includes Pictionary and kickball, and then go home. So basically, I am getting paid to picnic. Which is kind of cool, I just wish I could choose who I was picnicking with, instead of being with coworkers.

Coworkers like the one who came up to me this week and told me her husband is a cross-dresser. I don’t know why she told me that.

But at least I get to get some free food, enjoy a beautiful sunny day, and not have to work. The only downside is the work will still be there and either I have to take it home with me this evening or face a heavier load Monday. The procrastinator in me says let it wait.

For my contribution, I made a new recipe, which I kind of created on my own. I made some delicious brownies, did a peanut butter filling and topped it with chocolate ganache. Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies. They are delicious, although I realized maybe a bit messy for a picnic when it’s 85 degrees. (Can I just say OHMYGOODNESS I love this weather!!) Photos to come, I saved a couple at home to take pictures of later. Ok I admit, that’s not the only reason I saved some. But, I do need to get more serious about what I eat and mostly working out, because the number I saw on the doctor’s scale yesterday was a bit shocking.

So.. last week at the market I decided to pick up some asparagus and try them out. I’ve only eaten them once, and honestly I didn’t really like them. But, I’ve started liking things I used to hate recently, so thought I’d give it a try. I have two recipes in mind to use these weird little veggies on, and I did the first today.

Asparagus Fried Rice

I love making Asian food. I do all kinds of stir fry variations, eggrolls, wontons, pan-fried noodles, and everything from orange chicken, beef and brocolli and everything in between. So using asparagus here seemed like a good idea.

Fried rice is really easy to make, and pretty versatile. I used brocolli, peas, carrots and corn. It was fast to make and tasty! I served it with general tso chicken I made and it was a delicious meal. The asparagus was actually pretty good, with a nice crunch. I am looking forward to trying the next recipe this week!

So.. this year for Easter, my sister Ruth hosted a lovely dinner that included her husband’s family and our family. There were about 20 people there, and lots of amazing food.

For dinner, I brought brussel sprout salad, which is one of my new favorite foods. I never thought I liked brussel sprouts, but this is the 2nd recipe I’ve had them with and really, they aren’t bad at all. I think it depends on how you cook them.

The recipe is fairly simple and since it includes bacon, really, you can’t go wrong.

I added apples to the recipe, and I really liked the added crunch. It’s good with or without. I used pink lady apples, since it’s what I had, but I’m curious how it would be with some sour granny smiths.

Recipe: Brussel Sprout Salad

The other thing I brought was one of my favorite desserts: Pretzel Salad. Perfect mix of salty and crunchy, sweet and creamy and delicious fruit.

I did it with strawberry, but you can really do any fruit flavors and I’m sure it would be just as tasty!

This is not only a delicious dessert, it’s also beautiful!

Recipe: Pretzel Salad

Here are a few photos from the evening:

So.. I was talking to Miriam on Friday night, she was getting ready to bake cupcakes for her roommate’s bridal shower. She wanted to do strawberry cupcakes and we were talking about some options and ideas. I had a bonfire to go to on Saturday, and as the Resident Cupcake Queen, I pretty much had to bring cupcakes. I decided to give strawberry cupcakes a shot and WOW they were awesome. I’m thinking these may be the ones I do for Ruth’s baby shower this summer.

Strawberries are in the actual cupcake, in the delicious version of meringue buttercream frosting and them sliced on top as garnish. Yum and beautiful. This may be one of my favorites so far.

So.. St. Patrick’s Day came a little late this year. I just got back from a fun little Irish party where I spent much of my time looking for gold hidden by leprechauns (those are sneaky little guys!) and eating WAY TOO MUCH FOOD. I, of course, brought cupcakes, which pretty much anyone who knows me by now knows that if you invite me to a party, I will bring cupcakes. Today’s offering? Irish Cupcakes, which are a delicious brown sugar pound cake with Bailey’s Irish Creme Frosting. YUM-O. I’m telling you.

I need to work on taking photos during the prep/bake period.

Saturday night we baked delicious Snickerdoodle Cupcakes. They taste just like snickerdoodle cookies, and have a great frosting that’s almost like a marshmallow cream. Yum!

Esther & Jared climbed up on the counter to lick the bowl when we were done.

Finished product: gorgeous AND delicious!

I absolutely love cupcakes. They are fun to make, fun to eat, and pretty much my favorite treat. I made these delicious mocha cupcakes last week.

I am hoping someday to be able to sell my cupcakes in my own shop. Look for more photos to come of my creations, and hopefully information on how to purchase (once I figure out the legal side of things!) coming soon-ish!

So.. it’s been a while since I made my ratatouille. It’s hard to juggle trying out French cooking and working on healthy eating habits. They really don’t go hand-in-hand.

But, yesterday I made Julia Child’s boeuf bourguignon. Well, it was really my version of it. I didn’t have a few of the ingredients, and I used my slow cooker instead of going back-and-forth between stovetop and oven. It turned out fantastic and I think I’ll make it again sometime. I have leftovers for lunch today and I seriously can’t wait.

Hopefully the break between Julia’s recipes won’t be so large this time, but we’ll see. I have to sit and read the cookbook and find my next attempt. But, so far, so good!

(Sorry, I forgot to take pics.)

[A delicious success!]

My first attempt with Julia Child was just that – a delicious success! It was my first time doing any kind of French food, my first time using all locally grown fresh produce and my first time using eggplant at all. Raw eggplant tastes like a bitter cucumber.

What I love most about this cook book is it’s more than just recipes. It really does teach you how to cook – techniques, why and how to do things. I’d never before peeled a tomato and the 10 second blanch really did make it insanely easy.

Cooking this dish took a lot of steps, but they were all fairly simple. It really is a delicious meal, and we all enjoyed it thoroughly!

I did cut the vegetables I think differently than would be traditional, and next time I may do it closer to the normal way. My knife skills definitely could use the practice.

Bon appètit!