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Saturday, October 30, 2010

new family pictures!!






My sons are the cutest...sorry other mommies...but it's the truth.....

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Cookware, dinnerware, bakeware, cutlery, and recipes - Cooking.com

Cookware, dinnerware, bakeware, cutlery, and recipes - Cooking.com

Three Scenic Drives for Fall

Three Scenic Drives for Fall

It's my first fall foliage on the East Coast. I can't wait to get out and take some pictures. If you are in the VA/DC area, Loudoun County has lots of information about places to go and see while here! You should check it out.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Wednesday Wednesday.....

Things have been hectic...ack!

I want this blog to be successful....so I've been asking my husband for advice on the technical part of my blog.  The mantra has been...content content content...so that's what I'm working on.

Right now, I am working on a 2 week menu.  I'm a spontaneous person......a cook on the fly.....so it's all new to me....I drug out some cookbooks from my stack....ok stacks of them.  The first one I grabbed was a 3-n-1 cookbooks of casseroles, slower cooker, and one dish recipes....whoohoo!!  So I've made a list...I'll be using the recipes as a base and adding my own fun twist.

In a couple of weeks....here in DC they are having the Metropolitan Cooking show at the convention center.  I am SO excited.  Paula Deen, Bobby Flay, and Rachel Ray will be there.  Lots of vendors, demonstrations will be there.  A foodie's paradise!!!

Here is the link for more information DC event . The list of vendors

Monday, October 25, 2010

Monday October 25th

Welcome to Monday!!! I was hoping to get my camera paraphernalia attached to my laptop so I could put up some video and pictures (other than my cell phone) but that didn't happen.  So hang in there I am working on it.

This weekend I went to my local grocery store looking for couscous.  All they had was couscous made from wheat flour, not any of the exciting kind...although I did see pearl couscous but it was made from wheat as well.

I bought Israeli couscous.  I bought the regular and also the whole wheat.  Even the store brand had a plastic container of couscous  that you could add your own seasonings and make a great side dish.  I did find LOTS of different boxed couscous...everything from sun-dried tomato to Mediterranean with feta and Greek seasoning.  Rule of thumb...don't shop when hungry!! :-)

I was even able to find Washington Apples!!! It was very exciting..especially after being 2900 miles from home.  I couldn't wait to get home and eat one!!

I'm going to retrieve a few couscous recipes and will use what I bought this weekend.  Once I am able to post the pictures and videos, I will upload them to the webpage.  I'm hoping by this weekend. I'll keep doing the word of the day and other interesting things I find about cooking. Including camera phone shots of stuff I make this week for dinner.

Thanks for checking in.  I'll ttyl!!

Love and good eats,

Mandy

Friday, October 22, 2010

Preview of my Spotlight on Couscous



What is couscous?  How do you make it? Where does it come from?  What does it taste like?

I was at the store recently and saw bags of couscous on sale. On sale signs always make me take notice!!

I've made couscous before....out of the box...but never really knew what it was.  The bag that I picked up said Israeli couscous (I didn't even know they came in different nationalities)...so I took it home and tried it out!  It was delicious!

Couscous is eaten all over the world.  It is made in a variety of ways from a variety of things. The most common is actually a "pasta" and is made from semolina (wheat) flour.  It is made by rolling, moistening and shaping granules of flour until they are small and round.  Some couscous is made from pearl millet and barley.  Others are actually made from cornmeal.

Traditional couscous takes a long time prepare and is steamed over broth.  Most of what couscous you find here in the US are processed and are quick cooking (like 5 minutes).

What can you do with couscous?  It is traditionally served under meat or a stew but can be used as a side dish.  It can be served hot or cold.

What does it taste like?  It  really depends on how you make it...what you make it with...and how you dress it.  The Israeli couscous I made....I made with chicken broth, onion, garlic and some "Montreal chicken seasoning" .  It was quick cooking so it only took me about 10 minutes total to cook it.  It's like pasta but not as starchy.  I've also made it as a side dish salad...served it cold with cheese cubes, onion and drizzled a vinaigrette dressing over it.

This weekend I'll be buying some different kinds of couscous and will be posting pictures and recipes the beginning of next week.  So don't forget to come back and check it out.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Welcome!!

I'm undertaking something that has been a long time dream...to share my love of cooking with others.  Food that is cooked with love surpasses the taste of any other food!

I hope that you will check back often.  I am planning on sharing recipes, reviewing local restaurants, doing step by step instructions on my favorite home cooked meals!

Come on in friend...pour yourself your favorite beverage and stay awhile!

About Me

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I love to cook. It is my passion.