NEW YORK, NEW YORK

My dream is to go to New York and eat New York food. When I say "New York food" I mean bagels, street food, and all the other food New York has to offer. My Dream is going to come true next November! I get to go to New York with my school and I'm super pumped! I have been looking forward to this since my freshman year!
Since I still have a while before I get to go, I decided to experiment and make NEW YORK BAGELS! If you don't know, New York bagels aren't like your everyday (panera) bagel. They aren't as though on the outside, the are more "tinder" and yummy! Once you have had a New York bagel, you will never go back.
I went searching and searching for recipes on bagels and I finally found one that I felt like I could accomplish! Keeping in mind that I never have made bagels in my life, so this was an experience!

NEW YORK STYLE BAGELS!!!
sophisticatedgourmet.com- check it out!



Pic credit- sophisticatedgourmet.com

 2 teaspoons of active dry yeast

1 1/2 tablespoons of granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups of warm water(you may need 1/4 cup more, I did!)
3 1/2 cups of bread flour or high gluten flour(will need extra for kneading)
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt

PREPARATION:
1.  In 1/2 cup of the warm water, pour in the sugar and yeast. Don not stir. Let it sit for five minutes, and then stir the yeast and sugar mixture, until it all dissolves in the water.

2. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle and pour in the yeast and sugar mixture.

3. Pour half of the remaining warm water into the well. Mix and stir in the rest of the water as needed. Depending on where you live, you may need to add anywhere from a couple of tablespoons to about 1/4 cup of water. You want to result in a moist and firm dough after you have mixed it.

4.On a floured counter top, knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Try working in as much flour as possible to firm and stiff dough.

5. Lightly brush large bowl with oil and turn the dough to coat. Cover the bowl with a damp dish towel. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until the dough has doubled in size. Punch the dough down, and let rise for another 10 minutes.

6. Carefully divide the dough into 8 pieces. Shape each piece into a round. Now, take a dough ball, and press it gently against the counter top moving your hand and the ball in a circular motion pulling the dough into itself while reducing the pressure on the top of the dough slightly until a perfect dough ball forms. Repeat 7 other dough rounds.

7. Coat a finger in flour, and gently press your finger into the center of each dough ball to form a ring. Stretch the ring to about  1/3 the diameter of the bagel and place on a lightly oiled cookie sheet, repeat with the remaining dough.

8. Bring a big pot of water to a boil and drop the bagels in, they should float to the top. Boil them for 4 minutes on each side. Take them out and put them on a baking sheet. This is where you would add whatever toppings you want. Let them bake 350degrees in the oven for about 20-30 minutes or until golden brown and cooked all the way through.

OK so I know what your thinking, there are too many steps and I can't do it. YOU CAN! It isn't hard, there are just a lot of steps to follow! BUT......IT IS WORTH IT!!! SOO my pictures go deleted off my camera so I took some off this blog I follow!

Like a Good Neighbor

I hope everybody had an excellent Christmas/New Years! Mine was fantastic and I'm back in school and hating it!

When New Years comes by many people as you know make New Years resolutions. I made one for myself and it is to get through P90X. I finally got the courage to order it this week, so it is on its way as we speak(or blog chat). I'm nervous to see whats its like. I don't mean to sound narcissistic but I work out and I would say I'm fit, but may people say its harder than it seems.....

So enough with the healthy plans....on to the real stuff, FOOD!

Over the break I get really bored toward the end because THERE IS NOTHING TO DO! So when I'm bored I do what everyone does...bake something! I wanted to make something yummmy, but I didn't want to eat it so I decided to take it to our neighbor! I decided to make a peanut butter pie! My neighbor informed me that this pie is AMAZING and I trust her because it smelled like heaven and I took a lot of will power for me not to stick a fork into it and just start eating it!

The Giving Pie

peanut butter pie

1 9in. pie crust

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 TBS peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup peanut butter M&M's
2/3 cup milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350*

Place prepared pie crust in a 9in. greased pie pan and set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl combine sugar, flour, peanut butter, and butter. Mix well.

Add eggs, vanilla. Mix until combined. BY HAND stir in the peanut butter M&M's and chocolate chips. After you have mixed the two final ingredients, pour the batter into the prepared pie crust.

Bake for about 45 min. or until the middle is firm. DO NOT over bake it! The pie will look a little darker on top, but DO NOT let it go in the oven for too long! Let it set for at least an hour.

Serve with some ice cream or put in a basket and deliver it to your neighbor!

It looks like a cookie on the top,yum

Try a random act of kindness, make this pie and deliver it to someone you think needs it. You wont believe how good it feels to do something good for someone else!

A Reason To Celebrate

       Okay, I don't know about you but I feel like this year has flown by so fast. I'm already half way into my harder than hard junior year and I'm freaking out a little bit. My teachers, parents, and any other person who asks what grade I am in keeps reminding me what I need to do before next year......ACT score, college, grades, A PLAN of some sort, the list goes on and on. The one thing that gets my mind off of all those things is... you guessed it FOOD!

   My Brother Keith's birthday was the 18th and mine was the 20th and since they are so close to Christmas, Keith and I never give each other birthday gifts. This year we decided to make/buy our gifts. Keith LOVES yellow cake, so I decided to bake him a birthday cake from scratch. Keith bought me a cake that I love and dream about all the time, I was very happy!

Yellow Birthday Cake

yum yum

Yield: Two 9-inch round, 2-inch tall cake layers, and, in theory,

4 cups plus 2 tablespoons (480 grams) cake flour (not self-rising)
2 teaspoons (10 grams) baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon (5 grams) table salt
2 sticks (1 cup, 1/2 pound or 225 grams) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups (400 grams) sugar

2 teaspoons (10 ml) pure vanilla extract

4 large eggs, at room temperature

2 cups buttermilk (475 ml), well-shaken

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans and line with circles of parchment paper, then butter parchment.

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until pale and fluffy, then beat in vanilla. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well and scraping down the bowl after each addition. At low speed, beat in buttermilk until just combined (mixture will look curdled). Add flour mixture in three batches, mixing until each addition is just Incorporated.

Spread batter evenly in cake pan, then rap pan on counter several times to eliminate air bubbles. (I like to drop mine a few times from two inches up, making a great big noisy fuss.) Bake until golden and a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack 10 minutes, then run a knife around edge of pan. Invert onto rack and discard parchment, then cool completely, about 1 hour.

Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

Yes, it’s true: A chocolate frosting recipe without any butter, whipped eggs and barely a modicum of added sugar. Oh, and you don’t even need an electric mixer to make it. What are you waiting for?

Only cooking note: Be sure that your sour cream is at room temperature before you make the frosting. Makes 5 cups of frosting, or enough to frost and fill a two layer 9-inch cake

15 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1 1/4 teaspoons instant espresso (optional, but can be used to pick up the flavor of average chocolate)

2 1/4 cups sour cream, at room temperature

1/4 to 1/2 cup light corn syrup

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine the chocolate and espresso powder, if using, in the top of a double-boiler or in a heatproof bowl over simmering water. Stir until the chocolate is melted. (Alternately, you can melt the chocolate in a microwave for 30 seconds, stirring well, and then heating in 15 second increments, stirring between each, until the chocolate is melted.) Remove from heat and let chocolate cool until tepid.

Whisk together the sour cream, 1/4 cup of the corn syrup and vanilla extract until combined. Add the tepid chocolate slowly and stir quickly until the mixture is uniform. Taste for sweetness, and if needed, add additional corn syrup in one tablespoon increments until desired level of sweetness is achieved.

Let cool in the refrigerator until the frosting is a spreadable consistency. This should not take more than 30 minutes. Should the frosting become too thick or stiff, just leave it out until it softens again.

ACT Tacos

This morning, of all mornings was the fabulous and terrifying ACT. It was my first time taking it and I was really nervous. My plan was to go in blind and see what I get, then take the class and study. Well lets just say I will be taking it again for sure. I felt good during everything except for the science part. I mean really do I really need to be comparing graphs on rocks and erosion?!?! If you can't tell by my choice of punctuation, I had NO idea what was happening with that whole section of that test. So my Saturday started off not to the best start, but then it got worse because my mom and I decided to go to the mall. It didn't ocure to us that it is about 2 weeks until Christmas! 25 MINUTES TO FIND A PARKING SPOT! So I was having a bad day until my mom said I could make dinner! That always makes my day better. So I decided to make shrimp tacos! I found this recipe online and we just finished eating it. I feel like I just ate a whole....something that makes you feel sick. Anyway, this recipe is really yummy and a little on the spicy side, but you can always tame it down a little bit.

Chipotle Shrimp Tacos!!!

Ingredients:

• 1 (12 ounce) package bacon, cut into small pieces
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 2 pounds large cooked shrimp- peeled deveined, and cut in half
• 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
• 12 corn tortillas
• 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 lime, juiced
• salt to taste

Directions:

1. In a large, deep skillet fry the bacon over medium- high heat until evenly brown. Drain the bacon fat. Add the onions to the pan with the bacon and cook 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent. Stir the shrimp and chipotle chiles; cook 4 minutes or until heated through.
2. Heat tortillas on an ungreased skillet over medium high heat for 10 to 15 seconds. Turn and heat the other side. Fill the heated tortillas with shrimp mixture. Sprinkle with cilantro, lime juice, and salt. You can also add avocado, cheese, sour cream! SUPER YUMMY!!!

Turkey Hangover...

Happy late Thanksgiving everybody! I hope everyone got to see their loved ones over the break. I don't know about you, but I had WAY too much to eat. I literally felt ill after eating our amazing lunch. My Nana cooked and of course she packet us left overs to take and not only did I gain 5 lbs. just from eating that one day, I gained another 5 from eating two days after Thanksgiving. It will be awsome hitting the gym on Monday...

So last Sunday we had our weekly D.D.D. If you dont know what that is I'll clue you in. Every Sunday my family and my Dad's brother's family eat together and watch Dexter..(Dexter, Dinner, & Drinks..get it) Anyway, we switch off houses every week and last Sunday I was at my house. When D.D.D. is at your house, you make the Dinner and provide Drinks and watch Dexter on your T.V. Hopefully you caught on by now.

So back to my house.... I made bruchetta as an appetizer and I experimented and made a new bread. My mom also made fantastic pasta (I'll share with you later) and we had baked apple crisp for dessert from my Aunt Rene. I have made bruchetta a million times and so I thought I would finally share it.

Bruchetta

• 6 to 7 plum tomatoes (about 1 1/2 lbs.)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
• 6-8 fresh basil leaves, chopped
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 French baguette
• 1/4 cup olive oil

Get a medium bowl and set a side. Chop the tomatoes, mince the garlic and add the EVOO into the bowl. Then, add balsamic vinegar, chopped basil, and salt and pepper. Put a lid on the bowl or put some covering over it and set in the fridge so the ingredients can mature together. Cut the French baguette into about 1/2 inch peices and set aside. Heat a skillet over medium to high heat. coat both sides of the bread with olive oil and put in the hot pan until each side is golden brown and the set a side. After you are done with the bread, you can top the bread with the tomato mixture and serve. This recipe is awsome and super easy.

Blueberries and Knitting

   A couple weeks ago, while I was on Fall Break, I learned how to knit. I was taught by a fantastic resident at a retirement community, Jonni  and she was a great teacher. She was taught by the Red Cross during WWII and she knitted vests and all kinds of things for the soldiers at war. I love hearing all of her stories and her many adventures she has had. The ladies at this retirement community knit every Friday at 1:30. I could go during Fall Break because I was off school and I could go today because I was off school for conferences. Anyway I have learned to knit and I love it! And to all those people who laughed at me for learning how to knit, looks like you don't get a Christmas present. You shouldn't have laughed....... I'm not bitter about people laughing at me or anything... 

   So I was going to Sit'n Knit today and I thought I would use my other fabulous, not laughable talent to bake something yummy for the ladies. I found this amazing blueberry lemon bread recipe. It sounded so yummy so like I always do, I made it. It ended up being a great hit and the ladies loved it. I know what your thinking, wow she can cook and knit, she must be super woman! No, almost though.....I'm getting there. Since I'm almost super woman I thought I would share the secret to my success....THE RECIPE!

Sit'n Knit Yummies
Also known as Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Loaf

For the loaf you will need:

• 1 1/2 cups + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (about 2 lemons worth)
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen, thawed and rinsed

For the lemon Syrup:

• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/3 cup sugar

For the lemon glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease bottom and sides of one 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.(I put parchment paper on the bottom of loaf pan because it tends to stick! Hate it when that happens, don't you?)



Sift,sift,sift,sift,sift,sift.

2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, vanilla and oil. Slowly whisk together the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix blueberries with remaining tablespoon of flour, and fold them very gently into the batter.



FOLD the blueberries into the batter.

4. Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan and bake for 50-55 minutes or until you insert a tooth pick and it comes out clean. Then take it out of the oven and let cool for at least 10 minutes before you take it out of the pan. While the bread is cooling make the syrup by mixing the lemon juice and sugar together and putting it on the stove until the sugar is dissolved.
5. When the syrup is done, poke little holes in the top of the loaf with a tooth pick. Brush the syrup onto the loaf and all around the sides. Do that twice. You will have plenty of the syrup left over. Let the loaf cool completely.



Loaf with the syrup!

6. When the loaf has cooled completely, make the glaze. Mix the powdered sugar and lemon juice together until it is stiff but enough for it to be poured over the loaf. When poured, let it do it's thing for 15 minutes and you can serve it!

So I have shared with you a super woman recipe and I trust you to only share it with the people who can handle the greatness of this recipe.

The dog wags his tail, not for you, but for your bread.
–Portuguese Proverb

Everyone is kneaded out of the same dough but not baked in the same oven.
–Yiddish Proverb

Family Matters

UPDATE! A lot has been going on in my world lately and I thought I would update you on what has happened!

This past weekend I met the most awesome man on the Food Network! I'm going to let you guess.............

I'll give you a hint...
Good Eats
Iron Chef

Any guesses? OK I'll just tell you, Alton Brown!!! Oh my goodness I was super excited to meet him! He came to Oklahoma for his 3rd cookbook signing tour. When my mom and I found out he was coming, we were so excited!!! If you are unfortunate and don't have good taste in food network shows and don't know who Alton Brown is, look him up! He is funny, smart, and his show is excellent! I kind of have a secret crush on him! His recipes are awesome and you need to try them!

OK, so the other thing I need to tell you about is that my Uncle Mark and his family came over to watch Dexter and we ate and had a good time. We ate an amazing dinner that almost everyone contributed to. My wonderful dad grilled steaks, my beautiful mother baked potatoes, my Uncle Mark created a wonderful salad, and my Aunt Rene made a home-made apple pie! By the end of the night I thought my stomach was going to burst because I was so full, but it was worth it!

My Uncle Mark's salad consisted of: grilled romaine lettuce, walnuts, feta cheese, purple grapes and a fantastic dressing. This salad was amazing and very artistic looking. My Aunt Rene's pie was a fabulous Paula Deen recipe and it was the best apple pie I had ever eaten. It was so yummy and what made it even better was that my favorite aunt made it from scratch and it had apple sauce in it! Sounds weird, but it made the pie even better.

I love my Uncle Mark, Aunt Rene, my cousins Megan, MariBeth, and Seth so much! They are awesome and I'm so blessed to have such great family and I can count on them for anything! Have a great Halloween! Be thankful for your family!