Thanksgiving Extravaganza!

Happy Day After!

I made it through Thanksgiving day and managed to cook an entire Thanksgiving dinner, even it was for only the boyfriend and I.

Russian Date Night

So I haven't updated in ages, thank you internship, job, and school...

The boyfriend and I had our Russian date night a couple of weeks ago, but regardless, it needs to be documented.

On the menu:

Beef and Pork Pelmeni

Stuffed Cabbage

Cherry Varenyky

Miam miam!

We shall begin our adventures with the pelmeni, so good we made them two nights in a row.

I got the recipe here and modified it a bit the second time to include fresh chives.

Chocolate Walnut Meringues

Hard to spell, but sweet to eat.

Meringues!

We went to Costco the other day with the plans of stocking our freezer and pantry once again and I had planned on buying bulk baking supplies since I always run out.

Mambo Italiano

What are my two favorite Italian foods?

Well, tonight at least, they're pizza and biscotti.

We started dinner with homemade chicken and sun-dried tomato pizza.

Just an Epicurious Kind of Evening

After our big shopping spree at Costco, my cooking has taken a nosedive.

While I've still been making attempts at baking, most of the groceries we bought were frozen ready-made foods and an absolutely excessive amount of bread products.

As such, we've been eating lots and lots of sandwiches, frozen pizza, and not a lot of my typical home cooking.

This evening, while watching Mad Men, I got in the 'Betty' mood and decided to actually cook dinner.

Ay yi yi! Alfajores!

I was in a baking mood last night and, for some reason, was on an evaporated milk kick. I browsed the internet for at least an hour looking for the perfect recipe to use up one of my cans of evaporated milk.

This recipe from Carnation promised me South American wonderfulness.

The amazing Argentinian, Peruvian, and Arabic (?!) ALFAJORES!

Treats You Can't Eat... and Some You Can

I bought a Groupon a while ago for $30 worth of baking supplies for $15 at a local cake/baking supply store.

I finally got around to making my way over there and bought some awesome little treats for my already-bursting-at-the-seams kitchen.

Coconut-Cranberry-Walnut EVERYTHING

Um, yes, please.

I've been on a total Coconut-Cranberry-Walnut trip lately.

It all started with those Coconut Cupcakes.

That was the catalyst.

I needed shredded coconut for the cupcakes and then, once I got a taste of the coconutty goodness, I was a woman possessed.

I had to find every recipe ever that had coconut.

Cheesy Tuna Casserole with Bacon

I've been in a comfort food kind of mood.

It's been raining, drizzling, overcast, and depressing all week in so-called Sunny Florida.

That, combined with cold air conditioning will leave anyone with cravings for a warm, fattening casserole.

Warm Turkey and Bruschetta Subs

The boyfriend and I went to the gym today and then he had to study for med school.

Books, papers, and iPad spread across the dining room table, he looks up at me and says:

It's okay. We've had a busy day. You don't need to make a big dinner. I'll just make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.


Peanut butter and jelly?

Surely I could do better than that.

So I offered to make a sandwich for him and this is what I came up with.

Coconut and Vanilla Cupcakes

I hadn't made dessert in a few.... days.... and the boyfriend and I were both beginning to get the sugar cravings.

We just bought a carton of Silk Coconut Milk, so I set off on a journey to find a recipe with coconut milk.

I found this.

Vanilla Bean Coconut Cupcakes. Yes, please.

Asparagus and Onion Quiche

I love France. In loving France, I also keep a very special place in my heart for quiche.

Vegetables, sometimes meats, cheeses, and eggs living in versatile breakfast/brunch/lunch/dinner harmony within a buttery, flaky pie crust.

Really, could anything be better?

I bring you the...