beet it

Beets. Did you know they are rich in dietary fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and C? It's true. [source]
A few summers ago I was wandering the farmers market and saw a pile of purple and gold beets overflowing a little farmer's table. They were beeeeaaauuuutiful. I had to have them. I had never had beets before (unless you count the canned variety,

Mango icecream

Förra helgen hade jag helt plötsligt fyra stora mogna mangofrukter (för det är väl så man säger i plural?) hemma. Jag älskar mango, men vet aldrig riktigt vad jag ska göra med dem. Oftast äter jag dem precis som de är, men att äta fyra mangofrukter känns inte helt ok. Så jag åt två (inte på samma gång) och bestämde mig för att göra glass av de andra två.
Eftersom jag är väldigt svag för glass funderar jag faktiskt på att skaffa en glassmaskin. Någon som har bra tips? Vilken är bäst?


Mangoglass
3 stora äggulor
1 1/2 dl / 120 gram socker
3,5 dl grädde
2 dl mjölk
1/2 tsk vaniljpulver
350 gram mangopuré (ungefär 2 färska mangofrukter)

Vispa äggulor och socker vitt och fluffigt. Häll grädde, mjölk och vanilj i en kastrull. Värm försiktigt tills blandningen når kokpunkten. Häll en skvätt över äggulorna och rör för att värma blandningen något. Häll över resterande gräddblandning. Rör om och häll tillbaka i kastrullen. Värm tills smeten tjocknat något. Ta bort kastrullen från värmen och låt svalna. Häll upp smeten i en ren skål, blanda i mangopuré, täck med plastfolie och ställ in i kylen tills smeten är kall.
Ta ut glassen ur kylen och rör ordentligt. Har du ingen glassmaskin, ställ in skålen i frysen och rör ungefär var 20:e minut tills glassen stelnar.
Ta ut glassen i rumstemperatur en stund före servering.




In English:
Last weekend I found myself having four large, ripe mangoes at home. I love mangoes, but I'm never really sure what to do with them. I usually end up eating them the way they are, which is fine, but eating four mangoes just like that is out of the question. So I ate two (not at once), and decided to use the other two to make icecream.

By the way, I'm seriously considering buying an icecream maker. Does anyone know which one to get?

Mongolian Beef

Hallelujah, it's Friday. 

It's about time you dine like a leader of the free world. 

This Mongolian Beef recipe comes from Executive White House chef, Ariel De Guzman who ran the White House kitchen when George Bush Sr. was in office.  

According to Guzman, Asian cuisine is a favorite of the Bush family and this Mongolian Beef was often requested for dinner parties that the President was hosting.  

Dear President and Mrs. Bush (Senior),

I bet you dream about eating Ariel's mongolian beef in the White House.  Seeing as we both live in Houston, I'd be happy to come over and prepare some for you.  I totally see why you like it so much.  It's pretty fantastic.  I am open most weekends over the summer so let me know what works for you.  My kitchen or yours... I'm easy. Yours is probably nicer though, so I can definitely bring my wok to your place.  

Oh and before I forget,  I played you, President Bush, in my second grade Parade of Presidents at my school.  I did my best to represent.  I'll catch you up on the details over dinner.

Sincerely,
Ashlea

Are any Chinese dishes in your repetoire? 

If not, you are probably going to dismiss this immediately because you need a couple of key sauces. 

Don't do it!

Use this as your opportunity to load up your arsenal for Chinese cooking.  You will need only a few things and the ingredients are pretty interchangeable for other stir frys, dumplings and rices.  Here's what you need that you might not have.

This Mongolian beef has such great flavor and you just won't believe how quickly it comes together. 

From my little kitchen to yours... Enjoy. 

Mongolian Beef
Recipe adapted from The Bush Family Cookbook by Ariel De Guzman

Recipe Notes
If you are not familiar with the term "cutting against the grain," check this out.  Cutting your meat correctly is key to making a good stir fry with tender meat.  This recipe makes 4 small portions, but the leftovers are fantastic so it's worth making the whole recipe just for two people.
Ingredients
For Marinade **needs to marinate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight 
1 teaspoon rice wine or dry sherry
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon corn starch
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2/3 pound flank steak, sliced across grain on an angle into thin strips
For Seasoning Sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon hot bean sauce (or bean sauce)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 cup water
Other Ingredients
5 tablespoons vegetable oil
8-10 scallions, cut into 1 inch lengths
Step by Step
In a large bowl, combine rice wine, soy sauce, vegetable oil, sesame oil, baking soda, cornstarch sugar. Add beef strips and toss to coat.  Marinate for at least two and hours and up to twenty four hours.

Make the seasoning sauce.  In a medium size bowl, combine hoisin sauce, hot bean sauce, cornstarch and water.  Mix to combine.  This seasoning sauce can be prepared up to twenty four hours before cooking.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat.   Add marinated beef and stir-fry until very lightly browned, about 1 minute.  Remove beef with slotted spoon; set aside.

Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of oil.  Reheat oil in skillet or wok and add seasoning sauce.  Bring to a boil. Return beef to pan and add scallions.  Stir-fry for 30 seconds.

Makes 4 servings.

friday senses

real life.



Missing: nephew. niece.

Reading: What should I read right now? I want something gripping and hard to put down. I just finished Helen Keller's The Story of My Life, and while fascinating.......not really all that thrilling, 
you know?

Watching/Still thinking and dreaming about: The Hunger Games. Did you see it? SOOOOOOOO well done. I'm usually not the biggest lover of

eating in: Cozumel, Mexico

Oh, hi there.

To give you a visual, I am sitting on the couch, wearing a pair of Soffe shorts.  You know, those soft cotton way too small shorts that were just all the rage when we 20 somethings were in middle school?

I didn't even know I still owned a pair, but it is amazing what you can find when absolutely everything you own is in the dirty clothes pile.

So here I am... in my Soffee shorts, catching up on what Bethenny Frankel has been up to lately.  Oh, come on.  Admit it... she's hilarious and I'll be the first to admit that I'm hooked on Bethenny Ever After.  If you are not, start watching so we can be on the same page.

But no matter what I'm wearing or what I'm watching, it is all a bit of a blur.  My mind is still floating its way through that little beach up there.  Sitting underneath a hut and sipping a margarita.

My unbelievably kind and sweet parents sent Mr. Hungry and me on a cruise as a graduation present for the both of us.  Mr. Hungry graduated from law school in December and took the bar two weeks ago.

Gosh, did we need a little vacay.  I totally agreed with them when they said that I needed a graduation present too. Three and a half years of supporting your husband through law school is present worthy in my book.

We were in Cozumel for the day and this being our fourth trip to this place, I deemed it about time for me to give you my expert opinion on where to eat.

You are in Mexico... we will be eating Mexican!

Let's start with fajitas.  If you are looking for the best fajitas in all the land, check out La Choza.  

Oh man, everything about this place is legit.  But I still dream about the fajitas.

This is what you need...

Fajitas Mixtas (shrimp, beef & chicken) 

Guacamole 

Classic Margarita  

You will love the sauce that comes with the chips.  If you love it as much as my father did a few years ago, you can go home with a bottle of the stuff.  He swears it lasted him for years.

Next up, let's go with the freshest seafood around at La Mission. 

This is what you need...

Ceviche Mixtos with Fish & Shrimp

Side of Avocado

Sol Beer  

(recommendation from our waiter Miguel... perfect combo)

Optional Addition:  Queso Fundido

Great mariachi and if you're lucky, you just might get to don a sombrero for part of your meal.

Recap:  

La Choza!  The very top of my list in lovely Cozumel.

La Mission!  A close second, but skip the fajitas and go with the fresh fish and seafood.

all in good health

straight from the earth. spring 2011health·y [hel-thee] adjective1. possessing or enjoying good health or a sound and vigorous mentality: a healthy body; a healthy mind.2. pertaining to or characteristic of good health, or a sound and vigorous mind: a healthy appearance; healthy attitudes.3. conducive to good health; healthful: healthy recreations.[source]
Last week I asked a question:what do

Barbie Doll Cake Pops♥

Barbie Doll Cake Pops♥

By: Amanda Cupcake

I received an invitation to play.... 

with cake pops, sprinkles, frosting and glitter.

and...Barbie!

I wish you could have been there with me when I had my Barbie Epiphany!

I didn't want to make cake pops that were shaped like Barbie's head.  Barbie is perfection. Who would want to take a bite out of her beautiful face?

My Barbie Epiphany:

  

Did you ever receive a Barbie Doll Cake when you were little?

You know, the skirt is the cake and a pretty Barbie doll is jumping out of your birthday cake? The only drama was deciding if you were going to eat..or play?

Or maybe that's what I asked myself when I created this cake pop.

Eat..or play?

I used this brownie pop mold from Wilton to turn my cake pop crumbles....

into Barbie skirts!

Barbie's accessories: Pearl sized sixlets, pink candy melt ruffles, sparkles.

And I figured.. if you can make *cupcake toppers* why can't you make *cake pop* toppers?

I printed Barbie paper doll cutouts on cardstock, hot glued them to sticks and inserted them into the cake pops immediately after dipping them in the pink candy melts.

And this is how Barbie turns into a cake pop.

No eating of Barbie's head necessary!

♥

My next inspiration...

to make cake pops of me and all my friends..wearing tu-tus!

(as pictured here in my pink tu-tu by Mir Tutu with a fabulous cupcake friend of mine)

♥