Thursday, January 29, 2009

make your own black bean burger

I am by no means a vegetarian, but am intrigued by this Black Bean Burger from marthastewart.com

Ingredients: (Makes 8)
* 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 1 small onion, coarsely chopped
* 1 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, deveined, and finely chopped
* 4 medium garlic cloves, minced
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
* 2 tablespoons ketchup, plus more for serving
* 1 1/2 cups cooked or canned black beans, drained
* 1 cup cooked basmati rice
* 2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
* Hot sauce, such as Tabasco
* 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions:
1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add onion, red pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until soft and onions are translucent, about 8 minutes. Add cumin, turmeric, and ketchup. Cook for 1 minute.
2. In the bowl of a food processor, combine onion mixture, beans, and rice. Process until well combined. Transfer to a large bowl. Add breadcrumbs, and mix well. Season with salt, pepper, and hot pepper sauce.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Drop 1/4-cup balls of bean mixture into skillet. Flatten into 3-inch patties. Cook until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Repeat process with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and bean mixture. Serve immediately with ketchup, if desired.

Monday, January 26, 2009

what I want now


free people jumper at smartbargains (super cute!)

holiday party tank from ae.com

cable cap cardigan from ae.com

ruched yoga pant from victoriassecret.com

entryway bench from target.com

sectional sofa from target.com (Saw this in the store in a fabulous blue/grey in Target's Home Design Event. Check it!)

wooden trunk from Target's Home Design Event

hurricane candle holder from Target's Home Design Event

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Inauguration Party 2009!

PREP:
As for themes, you can do anything you want. The dollar stores are a great place for supplies and giveaways. If you're doing a nonpartisan party, make everything gold. If it's environmental, go green. And of course -- the food is often themed, or based upon what the incoming president likes to eat. (from Throw Your Own Inaugural Bash at cbs.com)
ATTIRE:

the 'it' shoe for your inauguration bash from Marc by Marc Jacobs

Make your own party hat...on the cheap from martha stewart.com

APPS:

• Prez Obama Sliders
2 pounds hamburger meat
1 package of crumbled bleu cheese
1 package of applewood smoked bacon
1 package (6 individual buns) of potato bun
1 cup of horseradish mayonnaise (see recipe below)
1 cup red onion marmalade (see recipe below)
1 tablespoon of butter
salt & pepper to taste
In order to make sliders, punch out buns with a two inch ring mold or take a glass and push atop a potato bun to make a smaller ring size.
Handcraft your meat to 2 1/2 ounces burger rounds.
In a frying pan, over medium heat, add a thin layer of oil until slightly smoking.
Season burgers on both sides with salt and pepper and place into pan.
Place strips of bacon on a cookie sheet and bake in oven at 350 degrees. Cooks for 10-15 minutes, remove and let cool.
Cook for 3 minutes on each side or until desired temperature.
While burgers are cooking, toast potato buns in a toaster or a pan with a tablespoon of butter.
To assemble the burger take the potato bun, place a pattie on top then add, horseradish mayonnaise, red onion marmalade, bacon and blue cheese. Serve immediately.

• Horseradish Mayonnaise
2 cups of mayonnaise
1 8 ounce jar of horseradish
1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
1/2 tablespoon of black pepper
1/2 tablespoon salt
In a food processor pour mayonnaise, horseradish, cayeene pepper, black pepper and salt.
Mix for 2-3 minutes until thick and creamy. Don't over mix.

• Red Onion Marmalade
2 red onions
1 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup sugar
Slice both red onions, 1/2 inch thick.
In a pot, over medium heat pour red wine vinegar and sugar and bring to a simmer. Make sure that the sugar is dissolved into the red wine vinegar and then add the onions and cook until translucent and liquid is reduce. Make sure you're constantly stirring, not to burn. Let cool and reserve for the Prez Obama Sliders

• Nacho Cheese & Jalapeno Mini Quiches
- For pastry shells:
3 ounces, cream cheese
1/2 cup, margarine
1-1/2 cups, flour all purpose
- for Filing:
4 ounces, cheddar cheese (grated)
4 ounces, jalapenos, sliced
1 cup, half and half
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon, cracked black pepper
Pastry shells:
Combine ingredients and shape into 1 inch balls.
Place into lightly greased miniature muffin pans, form into shells and prick with a fork.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 5-10 minutes.
Filling:
Divide cheese and jalapenos between pastry shells.
Combine eggs, half-and-half and seasonings in large mixing bowl.
Pour egg mixture into pastry shells over the cheese and jalapeno mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until set. Let cool a few minutes and serve.

DESSERT:


Kind of hilarious Obama & Michele face cookies

Pastry for 'Change'

• Toasted Marshmallow Shake
1 bag jumbo marshmallow
2 cups milk
1 tablespoon sour cream
2 cups creamy vanilla ice cream
4 oz kahlua
On a medium sized cookie sheet place 1/2 bag of marshmallows, in a row.
Place under your burner in the oven for 2-3 minutes, until completely charred.
Take out of oven and let cool.
Repeat this step, but only let the marshmallows toast, so they are slightly burnt.
Take out of oven and let cool.
In a blender pour milk, kahlua, sour cream, ice cream and charred marshmallows.
Mix for 5 minutes.
Pour in a large glass and top with 2-3 toasted marshmallows.

...
Where I'll be Inauguration Nite:


what I want now


Faceted Manchette Cuff from Vera Wang at vivre.com

Pave Diamond Pendant Necklace from Nordstrom

Pave Diamond Earrings from Nordstrom

double platinum banded dinnerware from west elm

Also digging on the monogrammed glassware from west elm

Natori Teal Lace Bra in teak from bluefly.com

belted peacoat from ae.com (a.k.a. the coat I ordered when I thought I lost mine)

Coat Check Drawstring Coat from ae.com

external dvd-rw for mac


As I can't afford to upgrade to the new Mac I want I am looking at options for making my G4 useable for the moment & want this external dvd-rw drive. Link from amazon.com

Friday, January 09, 2009

chocolate truffles


Chocolate Truffles

INGREDIENTS
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup butter (no substitutions)
12 oz. semisweet chocolate
2 tbsp. liqueur or 1 tsp. extract
Unsweetened cocoa powder, finely chopped
nuts or toasted coconut (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Chill time: several hours

Heat cream and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add chocolate; cook, stirring frequently, until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and stir in liqueur. Transfer mixture to a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap, pressing onto the surface to seal out the air. Let chill for several hours until mixture is very firm, but can still be easily spooned out. Roll mixture* into 1 1/2-inch balls, then roll in cocoa, nuts or coconut, if desired. Place in a shallow dish in a single layer; cover and chill until firm. Store for up to 2 weeks in airtight containers.

*Temp Tip! The key to rolling these truffles is the temperature of the chocolate. If the chocolate rolls into uneven balls, it is too firm; let stand at room temperature until you can easily dip a spoon into it.

Makes 18 truffles.

Nutrition Per Serving: 130 calories, 1 g protein, 10 g total fat (6 g sat.), 13 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 12 g sugar, 15 mg cholesterol, 0 mg sodium, 3 points

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails