Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Monday, January 23, 2012
German Apple Crumble Cake
This past Thursday evening I tried a new recipe. Stephan had been asking and hinting for awhile for me to make a German Apple Crumble Cake, and I had finally got the recipe from someone. So I tried it, since the recipe looked pretty simple. And it was VERY easy to make! Not complicated at all. This is another traditional German recipe from Stephan's childhood. And according to Stephan's verdict, I aced it on my first try. Its very simple, not overly sweet and DELICIOUS! I would definitely make this again. Anna even approved...she licked the dough off of the bowl (she worked her way all around the rim), she loved the soft little pieces we broke off for her (the soft part under the top crust), and licked our plates clean after we were done.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Meet Me On Monday & Weekend Recap
I'm too lazy to do this in 2 separate posts. Nor do I want to write 3 posts today (in all). So I'm combining them, tough for you!
Meet Me on Monday
Today, I'm linking up with Ashley at Life as I know It.
1. What jewelry do you wear 24/7?
2. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it?
3. How many siblings do you have?
4. Were you named after anyone?
5. Coke or Pepsi?
Answers:
1.) I have a pair of diamond earrings, and a diamond necklace both from Stephan. And a daughter's pride ring from y parents. I wear those everyday, except when I sleep.
2.) I most definitely twirl my spaghetti!
3.) I have two siblings, both younger. My sister, Meaghan, who is 2 years younger and my brother, Ian, who is 10 years younger.
4.) No, I was not named after anyone. My grandfather did however give my parents crap for giving me a Hebrew name, and not a German name (even though most of my other cousins don't have German names, so the big deal was...?!), and was even more upset at my Irish middle name. Haha!
5.) TOTALLY PEPSI! 3rd generation, genetically addicted.
The ONLY exception is when drinking...Pepsi just doesn't mix well. You get this weird medicine taste. So, this is the ONLY time I will take Coke over Pepsi (given a choice).
Weekend Recap
This weekend was awesome! Mostly because of Saturday, read on.
Friday I got off of work and we stayed home from the German Club. Since we were driving to the border on Saturday for Stephan's work permit (as mentioned in this post), we wanted to organize all the papers we were going to need and go to bed early.
Saturday we left for the border bright and early and 7am. It takes about 2.5 hours to drive down there, and we wanted to give ourselves plenty of time. The whole process at the border itself took about 1.5/2 hours. I was worried they weren't going to give him the work permit, they were asking a lot of questions. It was a complicated case, because it got so messed up so I guess they were just trying to make sure everything was legal and that they understood everything. The guy was very friendly too, he was being nice. We just calmly answered all the questions he had and finally, the decision was made and he was approved for the work permit!
Happy, we drove home and got back around 2:30pm. I took a nap, and then we went out for dinner to celebrate! Stephan went out with some friends later from work, to celebrate. I was tired and stayed home.
Sunday I had church in the morning, and a choir practice after. I ran and grabbed some groceries and I found bison stewing meat in the meat section! So I decided to try it, and made the delicious-and-now-favourite-beer-stew-with-paprika that we both love (in the slow cooker, of course)! Not that I eat the meat, it doesn't make a difference to me. But Stephan enjoyed the bison meat and it was neat to be able to cook with something different.
We finished the day off doing laundry and watching TV.
How was your weekend?
Meet Me on Monday
Today, I'm linking up with Ashley at Life as I know It.
1. What jewelry do you wear 24/7?
2. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it?
3. How many siblings do you have?
4. Were you named after anyone?
5. Coke or Pepsi?
Answers:
1.) I have a pair of diamond earrings, and a diamond necklace both from Stephan. And a daughter's pride ring from y parents. I wear those everyday, except when I sleep.
2.) I most definitely twirl my spaghetti!
3.) I have two siblings, both younger. My sister, Meaghan, who is 2 years younger and my brother, Ian, who is 10 years younger.
4.) No, I was not named after anyone. My grandfather did however give my parents crap for giving me a Hebrew name, and not a German name (even though most of my other cousins don't have German names, so the big deal was...?!), and was even more upset at my Irish middle name. Haha!
5.) TOTALLY PEPSI! 3rd generation, genetically addicted.
The ONLY exception is when drinking...Pepsi just doesn't mix well. You get this weird medicine taste. So, this is the ONLY time I will take Coke over Pepsi (given a choice).
Weekend Recap
This weekend was awesome! Mostly because of Saturday, read on.
Friday I got off of work and we stayed home from the German Club. Since we were driving to the border on Saturday for Stephan's work permit (as mentioned in this post), we wanted to organize all the papers we were going to need and go to bed early.
Saturday we left for the border bright and early and 7am. It takes about 2.5 hours to drive down there, and we wanted to give ourselves plenty of time. The whole process at the border itself took about 1.5/2 hours. I was worried they weren't going to give him the work permit, they were asking a lot of questions. It was a complicated case, because it got so messed up so I guess they were just trying to make sure everything was legal and that they understood everything. The guy was very friendly too, he was being nice. We just calmly answered all the questions he had and finally, the decision was made and he was approved for the work permit!
Happy, we drove home and got back around 2:30pm. I took a nap, and then we went out for dinner to celebrate! Stephan went out with some friends later from work, to celebrate. I was tired and stayed home.
Sunday I had church in the morning, and a choir practice after. I ran and grabbed some groceries and I found bison stewing meat in the meat section! So I decided to try it, and made the delicious-and-now-favourite-beer-stew-with-paprika that we both love (in the slow cooker, of course)! Not that I eat the meat, it doesn't make a difference to me. But Stephan enjoyed the bison meat and it was neat to be able to cook with something different.
We finished the day off doing laundry and watching TV.
How was your weekend?
Monday, January 17, 2011
weekend recap
This was an awesome weekend, again!
Friday night I got home from work and we just relaxed And I mean, relaxed with no tv and no computers. We turned both off for the night and just sat and TALKED. About everything, anything. We took some time for us, without the distractions of the world. That is, until Stephan went to the bathroom and came out to find me asleep. LOL!
Saturday we slept in. I ran and got some groceries for dinner, as I had decided to do another recipe in the slow cooker. Once I got that going, we ran and did some errands. We came home to the apartment, and could already smell the delicious dinner in the slow cooker! I had decided to try a new recipe I found from a blog I followed: beef stew with beer and paprika. You can find the recipe here. This was the most amazing recipe ever! The beef was so tender it fell apart. The carrots were so soft and tender they melted in your mouth. And the stew broth was AMAZING. The recipe was made for the stove, but I did some research and adjusted for the slow cooker. I put the veggies in the slow cooker first, so they would be on the bottom (as they take the longest to cook), and added the broth. I adjust the broth for 1/2 to 2/3's the amount, as I read somewhere that since the liquid doesn't evaporate in the slow cooker like on the stove, you need less. I added 2/3 of the water called for, and the normal amount of beer. Then I browned the meat as directed, and added it to the slow cooker, with the drippings. I added the spices in the last hour, (except for the garlic, which I added in the beginning) as I also read that if you cook the spices too long they lose their flavour. I also left out the onions, because I hate them, but added onion salt instead. I cooked it on high for 2 hours, and then cooked it on low for about another 4 hours or so. Stephan loved this as much as rouladen, and that says a lot!
We spent the rest of the evening watching a couple of movies, surprise surprise eh?!
Sunday was low key. We ate the yummy stew left overs, and watched another movie.
I think I'm addicted to the slow cooker. Everything is so much more yummy!
How was your weekend?
Friday night I got home from work and we just relaxed And I mean, relaxed with no tv and no computers. We turned both off for the night and just sat and TALKED. About everything, anything. We took some time for us, without the distractions of the world. That is, until Stephan went to the bathroom and came out to find me asleep. LOL!
Saturday we slept in. I ran and got some groceries for dinner, as I had decided to do another recipe in the slow cooker. Once I got that going, we ran and did some errands. We came home to the apartment, and could already smell the delicious dinner in the slow cooker! I had decided to try a new recipe I found from a blog I followed: beef stew with beer and paprika. You can find the recipe here. This was the most amazing recipe ever! The beef was so tender it fell apart. The carrots were so soft and tender they melted in your mouth. And the stew broth was AMAZING. The recipe was made for the stove, but I did some research and adjusted for the slow cooker. I put the veggies in the slow cooker first, so they would be on the bottom (as they take the longest to cook), and added the broth. I adjust the broth for 1/2 to 2/3's the amount, as I read somewhere that since the liquid doesn't evaporate in the slow cooker like on the stove, you need less. I added 2/3 of the water called for, and the normal amount of beer. Then I browned the meat as directed, and added it to the slow cooker, with the drippings. I added the spices in the last hour, (except for the garlic, which I added in the beginning) as I also read that if you cook the spices too long they lose their flavour. I also left out the onions, because I hate them, but added onion salt instead. I cooked it on high for 2 hours, and then cooked it on low for about another 4 hours or so. Stephan loved this as much as rouladen, and that says a lot!
We spent the rest of the evening watching a couple of movies, surprise surprise eh?!
Sunday was low key. We ate the yummy stew left overs, and watched another movie.
I think I'm addicted to the slow cooker. Everything is so much more yummy!
How was your weekend?
Monday, January 10, 2011
weekend recap
This weekend was another great one! Friday after I finished work we took our Christmas tree out to the curb. I had already taken the decorations off earlier in the week. and MAN, did that tree make a MESS! Strangely enough, even though the tree is gone it still SMELLS like a Christmas tree in the apartment!
Saturday morning we met up with Aryn and Gordie, the couple we went out for New Years with. They wanted to take us out for breakfast for dutch pancakes at a place called the Pfanntastic Pannenkoek House. It's a really thin pancakesthat come flat on a HUGE plate with all sorts of things on top. There's sweet things like apples and cinnamon, and savory things like shredded potato, cheese and mushrooms. Which is what I had. It was DELICIOUS, I couldn't even eat it all! And its a good price. Next time I want to try something from the sweet side of the menu. Stephan loved it too! It's definitely a place we want to go back to.
After breakfast, we parted ways until later in the evening. I had to do some grocery shopping and cleaning as we were having Gordie and Aryn over for dinner that evening. I decided to make spaetzle noodles and Rouladen, along with carrots and a salad. Since I had the time, I decided I would try the Rouladen in my new slow cooker, instead of in the oven like normal. I talked details with mom, and ran it on high for about 2.5 hours, and then kept it on low the rest of the way. Only thing to note for next time: Make the gravy thicker than I actually want it before I put it in the slow cooker with the Rouladen, as it waters down quite a bit as it cooks.
Saturday evening went really great. Dinner was fantastic, and what was even better was the company. We really had a good time just sitting at the table over drinks chatting with Aryn and Gordie.
Sunday was low key, we just hung out, had a nap, ate left overs and lounged on the couch.
How was your weekend?
Saturday morning we met up with Aryn and Gordie, the couple we went out for New Years with. They wanted to take us out for breakfast for dutch pancakes at a place called the Pfanntastic Pannenkoek House. It's a really thin pancakesthat come flat on a HUGE plate with all sorts of things on top. There's sweet things like apples and cinnamon, and savory things like shredded potato, cheese and mushrooms. Which is what I had. It was DELICIOUS, I couldn't even eat it all! And its a good price. Next time I want to try something from the sweet side of the menu. Stephan loved it too! It's definitely a place we want to go back to.
After breakfast, we parted ways until later in the evening. I had to do some grocery shopping and cleaning as we were having Gordie and Aryn over for dinner that evening. I decided to make spaetzle noodles and Rouladen, along with carrots and a salad. Since I had the time, I decided I would try the Rouladen in my new slow cooker, instead of in the oven like normal. I talked details with mom, and ran it on high for about 2.5 hours, and then kept it on low the rest of the way. Only thing to note for next time: Make the gravy thicker than I actually want it before I put it in the slow cooker with the Rouladen, as it waters down quite a bit as it cooks.
Saturday evening went really great. Dinner was fantastic, and what was even better was the company. We really had a good time just sitting at the table over drinks chatting with Aryn and Gordie.
Sunday was low key, we just hung out, had a nap, ate left overs and lounged on the couch.
How was your weekend?
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The things we do for love...
Stephan's birthday is this weekend. I have everything planned. Go the German club tomorrow to meet with our group, Spruce Meadows for show-jumping and horse stuff all day Saturday till 5, and then dinner with our cousins Johnny and Rachel after that. I'm making home-made Rouladen, Spaetzle, carrots and Traditional German Cheesecake.
So I ordered the Rouladen meat on Monday, and did my grocery shopping on Tuesday. I made the cheesecake after work and stuck it in the oven. I went to pick up the Rouladen meat today....raw slices....and they gave me 10 COOKED Rouladen. That's right, COOKED. I was not impressed. So that left me scrambling, at 7pm, to find rouladen meat. It's for dinner on Saturday, but I needed it so I could prep it (roll it) tomorrow before the German club, since we will be gone all night, and then all day Saturday. My only option was to buy it store-bought and packaged, instead of good fresh meat. I was very upset and disappointed.
I go home and take the cheesecake out of the oven. And then I start baking some cookies to bring to the German Club for snacks later on Friday evening. At 8pm at night, Stephan asked me if I will bake a 2nd cheesecake so that we have 1 for the German Club, and 1 for Saturday night dinner.
Because I am such a loving and awesome girlfriend, I said yes, provided Stephan went and got the groceries I needed, including a 2nd pan (as I couldn't take use the 1 pan I had, since it had a cheesecake currently cooling in it). Which he did, because apparently he really wanted the 2nd cheesecake to bring to the club. He made one more request for me to start some fish sticks for him while he was gone, so he would have something to eat when he got back. Again, I said yes.
So here I am, Stephan is gone at the grocery store. I am rolling out the left over dough I had for the 2nd cheesecake, baking the last of the cookies, starting the batter for the cheesecake and cooking Stephan's fish sticks. And then the fire alarm starts going off. Great. I get it stopped, open the windows. It goes off again. The cookies are close to burning as I try to stop the fire alarm, and I'm cursing and swearing up a storm enough that our neighbours upstairs come down to see if everything is ok and I need help. I thank them, but said I'm ok, just trying to cook/bake 4 things at once.
Stephan gets back at 9:10, and I finally get the 2nd cheesecake in the oven at 9:30. It takes 1.5 hours to bake. So now I'm up until 11 (I'm usually in bed at 10/10:30) and I have to wake up at 5:15am for work at 6:30. After the cheesecake finishes at 11, it has to sit in the oven for 30 minutes, and then on the counter for an hour before it can go in the fridge.
I'll let Stephan wait up with the cheesecake while it cools enough to go in the fridge. I'm going to bed as soon as that thing gets out of the oven! Only for Stephan would have I said yes to a second cheescake at 8:30 at night. What a crazy day it has been.
So I ordered the Rouladen meat on Monday, and did my grocery shopping on Tuesday. I made the cheesecake after work and stuck it in the oven. I went to pick up the Rouladen meat today....raw slices....and they gave me 10 COOKED Rouladen. That's right, COOKED. I was not impressed. So that left me scrambling, at 7pm, to find rouladen meat. It's for dinner on Saturday, but I needed it so I could prep it (roll it) tomorrow before the German club, since we will be gone all night, and then all day Saturday. My only option was to buy it store-bought and packaged, instead of good fresh meat. I was very upset and disappointed.
I go home and take the cheesecake out of the oven. And then I start baking some cookies to bring to the German Club for snacks later on Friday evening. At 8pm at night, Stephan asked me if I will bake a 2nd cheesecake so that we have 1 for the German Club, and 1 for Saturday night dinner.
Because I am such a loving and awesome girlfriend, I said yes, provided Stephan went and got the groceries I needed, including a 2nd pan (as I couldn't take use the 1 pan I had, since it had a cheesecake currently cooling in it). Which he did, because apparently he really wanted the 2nd cheesecake to bring to the club. He made one more request for me to start some fish sticks for him while he was gone, so he would have something to eat when he got back. Again, I said yes.
So here I am, Stephan is gone at the grocery store. I am rolling out the left over dough I had for the 2nd cheesecake, baking the last of the cookies, starting the batter for the cheesecake and cooking Stephan's fish sticks. And then the fire alarm starts going off. Great. I get it stopped, open the windows. It goes off again. The cookies are close to burning as I try to stop the fire alarm, and I'm cursing and swearing up a storm enough that our neighbours upstairs come down to see if everything is ok and I need help. I thank them, but said I'm ok, just trying to cook/bake 4 things at once.
Stephan gets back at 9:10, and I finally get the 2nd cheesecake in the oven at 9:30. It takes 1.5 hours to bake. So now I'm up until 11 (I'm usually in bed at 10/10:30) and I have to wake up at 5:15am for work at 6:30. After the cheesecake finishes at 11, it has to sit in the oven for 30 minutes, and then on the counter for an hour before it can go in the fridge.
I'll let Stephan wait up with the cheesecake while it cools enough to go in the fridge. I'm going to bed as soon as that thing gets out of the oven! Only for Stephan would have I said yes to a second cheescake at 8:30 at night. What a crazy day it has been.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Desperate Housewives
I work 6:30-2:30 at Subway right now. I bake the bread, and the cookies. All day long I was craving the subway cookies. But I refrained. Not even one!! You know why?
One Subway cookie has the same amount of calories as a turkey sub(6" I think)...thats about 250 calories for one cookie!! ONE!!! So If I ate three, I'd be consuming 750 calories. And thats disgusting. No matter how good they are.
So I got home from work and showered. Then I decided I was going to be domestic today, like Bree from Desperate Housewives domestic. I washed the dishes. I folded the laundry from this past weekend. I did 2 more loads of laundry.
And then I baked my own chocolate chip cookies, to kill my craving. I figured they are way more healthier than subway cookies. AND I can have 3 and I probably won't even be near the 250 calories of one of subway's cookies. At least that's what I'm telling myself. Don't correct me. Let me be in my own little world please! I have to say that my cookies turned out pretty delicious! I got the recipe from my bestfriend Shannon, so kudos to her!
I put away the dishes from the first load, and then I washed the dishes from my baking. And then I decided that I'm done being domestic for tonight. I don't feel like cooking dinner, I'm domesticated out today. I still have to do groceries once Stephan gets home, for his big birthday weekend. He's requested Rouladen, Spaetzle and Traditional German Cheesecake. So we'll just eat out tonight. But that will be ok. I cooked yesterday.
Usually I cook most nights. I have dinner in-process or on the table for when Stephan gets home at about 6 pm.
For my family reading this post, they are probably laughing their butts off! To think of me wanting to come home and bake or cook, and clean is pretty funny. In highschool I was very much anti-guy, and a bit of a feminist. No way was I ever going to marry and cook and clean for a guy. He could do it himself. I refused to clean, I hated doing laundry, and I refused to cook and bake. Besides, I wasn't good at it. Heck, I've ruined cupcakes from a box....TWICE!!!
But when I moved away for Teacher's College, and after moved in with two friends, and I had to learn to cook for myself because I hate microwave dinners. They taste like plastic. I learned a few basic dishes from my parents, and developed my own stir fry. To my surprise, I didn't suck and it actually tasted good! I didn't do much cooking past this because I didn't have the room in my little shared kitchen in the apartment with my friends.
When Stephan and I started dating, I started to cook a little more. I learned to make Maultaschen for him, my family favourite dish. And when he moved here last July, I really started to cook more. I started to explore my mom's recipes. She's a good cook. I bought some cookbooks, I bought myself more pots and pans and cooking stuff. I tried harder recipes. And they were good! Stephan loved them, he thinks I'm a great cook and that I have talent.
Now I really enjoy cooking. I go and buy myself "toys" for the kitchen, which shocks my mom. I even asked for a mixer for Christmas! I bet my mom never thought she would hear that coming from my mouth. The old me never would have asked for kitchen or house-hold supplies for a gift and I would've murdered whoever gave me one. I would have found it insulting. Now I have a list of things I still want for my kitchen. And I'll go online looking for new recipes to try.
I even enjoy taking care of the house together with Stephan. Because its for him. I think because Stephan enjoys my cooking, it makes me enjoy cooking more. He constantly praises me and encourages me to try new things. He's really supportive, and loves to watch me in the kitchen. He knows better then to enter the kitchen when I'm cooking though, and distract me or try to steal a piece of something!! He learned that one the hard way!
I really guess I can say that I've become quite domesticated. And you know what? I like it. And I never thought I would. I guess love really does change some things. And I'm happy that this is one of the things that changed. I love this new part of me!
One Subway cookie has the same amount of calories as a turkey sub(6" I think)...thats about 250 calories for one cookie!! ONE!!! So If I ate three, I'd be consuming 750 calories. And thats disgusting. No matter how good they are.
So I got home from work and showered. Then I decided I was going to be domestic today, like Bree from Desperate Housewives domestic. I washed the dishes. I folded the laundry from this past weekend. I did 2 more loads of laundry.
And then I baked my own chocolate chip cookies, to kill my craving. I figured they are way more healthier than subway cookies. AND I can have 3 and I probably won't even be near the 250 calories of one of subway's cookies. At least that's what I'm telling myself. Don't correct me. Let me be in my own little world please! I have to say that my cookies turned out pretty delicious! I got the recipe from my bestfriend Shannon, so kudos to her!
I put away the dishes from the first load, and then I washed the dishes from my baking. And then I decided that I'm done being domestic for tonight. I don't feel like cooking dinner, I'm domesticated out today. I still have to do groceries once Stephan gets home, for his big birthday weekend. He's requested Rouladen, Spaetzle and Traditional German Cheesecake. So we'll just eat out tonight. But that will be ok. I cooked yesterday.
Usually I cook most nights. I have dinner in-process or on the table for when Stephan gets home at about 6 pm.
For my family reading this post, they are probably laughing their butts off! To think of me wanting to come home and bake or cook, and clean is pretty funny. In highschool I was very much anti-guy, and a bit of a feminist. No way was I ever going to marry and cook and clean for a guy. He could do it himself. I refused to clean, I hated doing laundry, and I refused to cook and bake. Besides, I wasn't good at it. Heck, I've ruined cupcakes from a box....TWICE!!!
But when I moved away for Teacher's College, and after moved in with two friends, and I had to learn to cook for myself because I hate microwave dinners. They taste like plastic. I learned a few basic dishes from my parents, and developed my own stir fry. To my surprise, I didn't suck and it actually tasted good! I didn't do much cooking past this because I didn't have the room in my little shared kitchen in the apartment with my friends.
When Stephan and I started dating, I started to cook a little more. I learned to make Maultaschen for him, my family favourite dish. And when he moved here last July, I really started to cook more. I started to explore my mom's recipes. She's a good cook. I bought some cookbooks, I bought myself more pots and pans and cooking stuff. I tried harder recipes. And they were good! Stephan loved them, he thinks I'm a great cook and that I have talent.
Now I really enjoy cooking. I go and buy myself "toys" for the kitchen, which shocks my mom. I even asked for a mixer for Christmas! I bet my mom never thought she would hear that coming from my mouth. The old me never would have asked for kitchen or house-hold supplies for a gift and I would've murdered whoever gave me one. I would have found it insulting. Now I have a list of things I still want for my kitchen. And I'll go online looking for new recipes to try.
I even enjoy taking care of the house together with Stephan. Because its for him. I think because Stephan enjoys my cooking, it makes me enjoy cooking more. He constantly praises me and encourages me to try new things. He's really supportive, and loves to watch me in the kitchen. He knows better then to enter the kitchen when I'm cooking though, and distract me or try to steal a piece of something!! He learned that one the hard way!
I really guess I can say that I've become quite domesticated. And you know what? I like it. And I never thought I would. I guess love really does change some things. And I'm happy that this is one of the things that changed. I love this new part of me!
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