My first experiment was something simple. I bought these delicious almond and cherry shortbread cookies from the grocery store. 10 for $5.99--not a bad deal, but I figured it would be even cheaper if I could make them myself. So I looked up a shortbread recipe online, included the other ingredients on the package of cookies I bought, added them in as I saw fit, and voila! Delicious almond shortbread cookies with cherries baked in.
There's A LOT of butter in these, but they are still delicious!
The cookies got the seal of approval from my roommates, who smelled them baking when they walked in the door and noted how delicious they smelled. When they were done, I even gave them a taste test and my cookies passed with flying colors! My one roommate, Lacie, even wanted the recipe. Success!
Pure, yummy goodness.
The next night for dinner I wanted to try Stuffed Tomatoes Provençal--but with my own spin on it (to get rid of the leftover ingredients we had before they went bad). Essentially I mixed beef (cooked) sausages, a few (3) potatoes, onion, garlic, the inside of two tomatoes, inside of half a squash, half a can of diced tomatoes, breadcrumbs, parsley, and some mushrooms in a food processor, and then stuffed it into two tomatoes, halves of a red and yellow bell pepper (called a capsicum here), and the half squash. After a drizzle of salt, pepper, and olive oil--I put them in the oven for 15-20 minutes. They came out delicious and I was quite proud. They reminded me of the stuffed tomatoes my host mother made for me when I studied abroad in France. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of them.
However, I had a good amount of the stuffing mixture left and wasn't sure what to do with it. I decided it would make a good ravioli filling but I didn't have pasta dough--so I decided to make it! Yes, pasta from scratch. It was my first attempt at such a thing, ever, but I think it turned out okay. First I made the dough:
Shhh, it's resting.
Then, since we don't have a pasta machine I had to roll it out with a rolling pin on the counter. Made quite a mess and didn't turn out the neatest, but it worked. I then made the little pouches, cut them into squares, and sealed them with a fork (with the help of an egg wash).
My beautiful in a slightly awkward, but made with love kind-of-way, creation.
One of the better ones--though far from perfect. It's okay--gave them character.
Threw them in a pot of boiling water for 4 minutes, and they came out edible! Tossed on a bit of salt and pepper, drizzle of olive oil, and some grated parmesan cheese--and the final product turned out quite nice (and tasty).
Not bad, eh?
My next attempt will be an apple galette for Christmas Eve. I've already picked out the recipe (in which I will, once again, make the crust from scratch) and I hope it will turn out just as well!
However, I would like to add--this in no way means I'm becoming "domesticated." It just means I know enough that I will never have to starve. :)
Oh, and John's doing well too. He's pretty much a rock star at the restaurant--was the only person to get tips the other day and is getting great reviews from customers!
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