What's cookin', good lookin'?

[seela]

I wouldn't worry about "fancy". You could take moms boring mash potatoes, add a little more butter, cream it a little more, and serve it in a wine glass and everyone will think it's amazing.

Plus if you wanted "fancy" fancy you'd be going to a restaurant right, this is more personal I think.

Which is why it's also difficult to suggest things, because food is so personal. Culture, childhood, the distinct flavor of local food, it all factors in.

What I would do is first look up what locally non-supermarket shelf type stuff you could use, and what will be in season.

Things that may be in season in your locations could be, oyster, mussels, crab, bunny, kale, butternut squash, fennel, leeks, and turnips, plus many more.

Once you know of some good ingredients look up recipes, but watch out for the web, be aware of culture.

And practice if it will be a first time you make it thing.

Thanks.

I normally cook a lot and I enjoy it, but I've been living in horrible conditions (cooking-wise) these past months, so I've been eating out most days and basically just made salads and some simple soups for lunch at home sometimes. I'm not worried about not being able to cook or it turning out bad (other than any gravy for meat...) as I'm pretty kitchen-savvy. I definitely won't have time to practice, as I'd like to do this the first evening we'll spend together at home, since that's when I'm planning to give him his birthday present anyways.

I'll probably stick with steak. He likes it, I know how to cook it just right to his taste and I can cook it after he's come home, so it's one thing off of my list of worries time-wise. The only thing I'm a bit worried about is the sauce. But I suppose I'll have time for a do-over if the first batch turns out unedible.

I'll bake some veggies with a generous helping of balsamico and other good stuff. The needed prep basically just chopping, and after I put it in the oven, I won't have to worry about it too much. And at least root vegetables are very much in season at the moment.

The dessert is what worries me, though. Because he really likes fruity things and fruit isn't in season. At all. It can be difficult to find good fruit that's ripe and looks nice as well. I need to come up with a Plan B, in case C_in_C's fruit pizza idea won't work out. I guess I could always make individual yoghurt cakes with some fruit sauce or puree. That wouldn't be too heavy, still fruity, and if need be, I could buy some apple or mango puree in store. And I know for sure we have some bilberries and strawberries in the freezer, picked by moi. They'd make a nice sauce, too. Plus I would be able to stick a candle on his little cake.

All in all, I'm excited to be able to cook again! And bake! Soon!

 

[wicked woman]

Seela if you've got strawberries in the freezer, what about making a pavlova for dessert? It's just meringue on the bottom, covered with whipping cream then topped with any kind of fruit. It's not hard to make and it's not that common so it's impressive. Or since there are just the two of you instead of making a big one, you could just make a few small meringues and make a pavlova-like sundae - break up the meringue and do 2 layers of the meringue, whipping cream and fruit in a clear wine glass.

 

[seela]

Seela if you've got strawberries in the freezer, what about making a pavlova for dessert? It's just meringue on the bottom, covered with whipping cream then topped with any kind of fruit. It's not hard to make and it's not that common so it's impressive. Or since there are just the two of you instead of making a big one, you could just make a few small meringues and make a pavlova-like sundae - break up the meringue and do 2 layers of the meringue, whipping cream and fruit in a clear wine glass.

I'm afraid the strawberries will be all mushy once they defrost, so this probably wouldn't look very nice. But thanks anyways, I didn't know it's called pavlova.

 

[maybewicked]

How about a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a fruit sauce or a fruit crisp on top...you can use frozen or canned fruit. There are some really easy receipes out there...

 

[seela]

How about a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a fruit sauce or a fruit crisp on top...you can use frozen or canned fruit. There are some really easy receipes out there...

This is one of my favorite things to make for a quick dessert for people who come over unannounced. And now that I got an ice cream maker for Christmass, I can make ice cream in just half an hour-ish, if I only have milk, cream or yoghurt in the fridge. Which I always have.

The fruit pizza mentioned by CinC is my plan A, if that doesn't work out for the lack of good fruit, I'll make little yoghurt cakes or some sort of vanilla mousse with fruit puree.

 

[IrisAlthea]

This is one of my favorite things to make for a quick dessert for people who come over unannounced. And now that I got an ice cream maker for Christmass, I can make ice cream in just half an hour-ish, if I only have milk, cream or yoghurt in the fridge. Which I always have.

The fruit pizza mentioned by CinC is my plan A, if that doesn't work out for the lack of good fruit, I'll make little yoghurt cakes or some sort of vanilla mousse with fruit puree.

This is my favourite frukt dessert for winter:
2 oranges (I cut them as filets but thinly sliced will do if in a hurry)
1/2decilitre water and 1/2 decilitre sugar
Zest from one of the oranges
One cinnamon stick
One star aniseed
Bil the sugar, water and spices for 3 minutes and let it cool before yoy pour it overklig the orange filets or slices.
Let it sit for at least an hour befor yoy serve it.
Goes great with vanilla ice cream, panna cotta or tings like that.

 

[seela]

This is my favourite frukt dessert for winter:
2 oranges (I cut them as filets but thinly sliced will do if in a hurry)
1/2decilitre water and 1/2 decilitre sugar
Zest from one of the oranges
One cinnamon stick
One star aniseed
Bil the sugar, water and spices for 3 minutes and let it cool before yoy pour it overklig the orange filets or slices.
Let it sit for at least an hour befor yoy serve it.
Goes great with vanilla ice cream, panna cotta or tings like that.

Panna cotta! Perfect! Thank you.

 

[IrisAlthea]

Panna cotta! Perfect! Thank you.

Yeah, you can never go wrong with panna cotta, can you? =)

 

[His_pet_slut]

I'm bored, so there is a chocolate, chocolate and even more chocolate cake in the oven. It will be topped with chocolate ganache. *sigh* I'll pay for this boredom with some really long walks this coming week.

 

[StrayKat]

Boiled carrots, boiled zucchini with small boiled potato. Some salmon with that maybe.
I hate dieting, I miss fast food so much arrrghhh

I need someone to hold my hand even tho I am grumpy as hell.

 

[Curious_in_Cali]

Chicken, feta, and spinach sausage served over a sauteed of olive oil, fresh spinach, diced tomato, and caramelized onions.

 

[Curious_in_Cali]

Baked tamari ginger chicken with curry couscous tossed with green beans and cherry tomatoes.

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

Fajitas. Chicken, onions, chili peppers, garlic, green and red bell peppers.

 

[seela]

Fajitas. Chicken, onions, chili peppers, garlic, green and red bell peppers.

This is exactly what we had today for lunch. Plus a yellow bell pepper and a side salad.

 

[sweepthefloor]

I am cooking up coffee in my kitchen lab again.

 

[DeepGreenEyes]

This is exactly what we had today for lunch. Plus a yellow bell pepper and a side salad.

I cooked it twice, it was so good.


Today: Vegetable beef soup, with onions, peas, red potatoes and carrots. Should last until May.

I like cooking on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

 

[seela]

Garlic bread is in the oven. Beetroot and walnut spread is already done and in the fridge. Mussels are ready to jump in the pot with butter, white wine, shallot and parsley as soon as the bread is done. The sun is shining and I have fresh tulips. What's not to like?

 

[Trakshvar]

Was at my grandmother last week and learned how to make traditional norwegian stew... It was suprisingly easy but all the cutting of fresh ingrediants wrecked my wrist Is real tasty made it today.. Took me several hours to find a proper pig legg with meat attached for the flavour tough..

 

[IrisAlthea]

Pasta with gorgonzola sauce and walnuts.

 

[Curious_in_Cali]

For lunch...some spicy veggie Korma & basmati rice. mmmmm.

AND for dinner, a slow and cozy stew that is already smelling fantastic.

 

[Latina49]

Mmmmm chicken asada and a ceasar salad...

 

[CutieMouse]

ginger & cilantro baked talipia with brown rice, two-buck chuck white wine; 4 squares of dark chocolate for dessert.

Leftovers are going into fish tacos for tomorrow's lunch.

 

[gypsy*seer]

Slow-baked Marsolais beef stew,
garlic, rosemary & asiago baquettes,
crisp green salad,
and a bottle of velvety smooth pinot noir.

Good snow day.

 

[knot_sweet]

chicken and mushroom ravioli with small pieces of baked butternut pumpkin, baby spinach, haloumi pan fried in garlic oil, halved cherry tomatos and a tiny bit of reduced red wine vinegar.

 

[knot_sweet]

today is round four of attempting to make bagels. For some reason I can't make the damn things work in any way at all. And I love bagels...