Granola - Challenge 2013 Recipe #14

Would you like your home to smell so good your husband (or wife) kisses you in thanks?

If so, make this today!  It is so good on yogurt, fruit, yogurt and fruit, with milk, on soon, etc. ;)

WOW!

DIY Test Kitchen Granola 

America's test kitchen does not have the recipe posted, but the link takes you to a site that has the recipe does.

Here are few pictures of our breakfast parfaits this past weekend.

Granola Bars - Challenge 2013 Recipe #13

Sometimes I just want to be able to send a granola bar to school with Ze-Ra or pack one in Wolverine's lunch.  Yet, the granola bars I have made are always too brittle or too crumbly or too sweet or too.....ugh.   

Is it really so much to ask? 

No. No it is not.  I am elated that I have decided to make my way through this book.  I am only two months in to the year and I already have SO MANY new recipes to keep around! :)

This one is definitely one of those.  I have already made two batches, and I have played with the ingredients a bit (keeping the ratios the same of course)! 

DIY Test Kitchen Granola Bars

America's test kitchen does not have the recipe posted, but the link takes you to a site that has the recipe posted, the only thing missing from the posted recipe is 1/3 c unsweetened coconut.  I have made these as listed and also without the pumpkin seeds and coconut and instead with peanuts and chocolate chips - both were delicious! 

Prepared Horseradish - Challenge 2013 Recipe #12

Hello.....my name is Melissa.....I love horseradish.

There, I said it.  Admitting you have a problem is half the battle, right? :)

I love cocktail sauce, horseradish mustard, I love horsey sauce - straight, in stir fry's, on bbq, on hotdogs....I have a problem.  :)

I had never even thought of making it myself.  I figured there had to be something tricky to it....I mean they sell it in those little jars like it's gold right?

Nope.  I peeled it, chopped it, whirred it in my ninja, added some vinegar, and BAM!

Now I have all the excuses in the world to make all kinds of horsey dishes....right?   Like some Homemade Cocktail Sauce?  You bet'cha!

DIY Test Kitchen Prepared Horseradish

Worcestershire Sauce - Challenge 2013 Recipe #11

It's official - I am a Worcestershire sauce snob.

I will never buy store bought again.

This picture is boring, I know.  I could not think of a way to take a cute picture of this.....don't let my creative mind block stop you from trying this!  It's super easy and so good!

DIY Test Kitchen Worcestershire Sauce

Brigadeiros - Challenge 2013 Recipe #10

Until yesterday, I had never eaten Brigadeiros - in fact, until I looked through my DIY Test Kitchen cookbook for the first time, I'd never even heard of Brigadeiros.  I must admit, I feel quite cheated that I have been missing out on these!

The cookbook mentions that people liken them to tootsie rolls....I don't agree.  I think they taste like brownie batter, but with a texture of warm fudge.

These things are fantastic and do you know what is even better....they are so easy to make!  Seriously, three ingredients, if you can work a can opener and stir, you can make these! :)

Make these.....WOW!

DIY Test Kitchen Brigadeiros  

The link takes you directly to the recipe.  

Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies - Challenge 2013 Recipe #9

This might have nothing to do with anything any of you care about, but do you know the BATTLE I have had to wage to get my daughter into girl scouts at the last two places we have lived?  It has taken months of phone calls, emails, voice-mails (some of which I must admit I started to lose my manners during), I even showed up at the office.  And after all of that, she is currently on a waiting list with 500?! other girls to get into a troop. :(

It is ridiculous!  I can tell you one thing, if I hadn't had the world's greatest girl scout leader when I was in scouts, I would not be trying this hard - I want Ze-Ra to have what I had, while she still wants it.  She has had a few good years and made some AMAZING memories at camp - one year she went for 5 weeks of overnight camp (did I tell you the one time I went to the overnight camp, I cried so hard my parents had to come get me after less than 24 hours?! - Who knew that this "I'm going to move to New York when I grow up" girl is really just a big momma's girl and now all she wants is to live a farm across a pasture from my parents with some chickens, cows, and goats with about 10 kids running around?!?!?!)

Whew - okay....back to the point.  Girl Scout Cookies.  Specifically Do-Si-Do's.....I can, and have, eaten an entire box in one day.  Oh one or two here....a few more with lunch, etc.  You know the drill.  But $4 a box and Ze-Ra isn't in scouts right now and I haven't tracked one down to buy cookies from.....so next best thing (actually better) - MAKE YOUR OWN!

WOW!  I mean they are a little bigger than I'd like, so I'm going to play with the size, but the taste is spot on....in fact, even a little better if I do say so myself. :)

DIY Test Kitchen Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

The link takes to you the recipe, it is free, but you do have to sign up for it. 

Coffee Liqueur - Challenge 2013 Recipe #8

Did you know that Coffee Liqueur is super easy to make?

Did you know that homemade blows any store bought out of the water? (surprise, surprise!)

What if I poured a shot into a prepared glass of Hot Cocoa?

I've poured us a couple of shots to drink while we make a batch for your house. :)

DIY Test Kitchen Coffee Liqueur

America's test kitchen does not have the recipe posted, but the link takes you to a site that has the recipe posted.

Citrus Infused Vodka - Challenge 2013 Recipe #7

WOW!  If you would like to receive a citrusy kick in the pants, this stuff is for you!  No messing around here - just vodka and citrus. :)

I used meyer lemons and naval oranges.  I also was not able to get it to filter through a coffee filter like I wanted (i.e. without having to stand there for 6 hours), so I used a fine mesh sieve and it seems to have worked just fine. :)

I am drinking some orange juice spiked with some of this deliciousness as I type this.  :) Well worth the 4 day wait!

The link takes you directly to the recipe....let me know if you make some as well!

DIY Test Kitchen Citrus Infused Vodka

I shared this recipe over at the Slow Roasted Italian's Ladies Night....stop by and check out the other fantastic drinks that were served up!  Like this Perfectly Peach Frozen Margarita! 

Chocolate Sandwich Cookies - Challenge 2013 Recipe #6

Until this recipe, poor little Te-Man had never had an oreo.....and to be honest, I can't remember the last time I did either.  Well....that has all changed!

The flavor of these little guys is OUTSTANDING! Crunchy and chocolate-y cookie around a creamy perfect filling.  I was worried that there wouldn't be enough filling or that the cookies wouldn't be crunchy or that the filling would be kinda  greasy.  Why did I worry....haven't I learned anything by now?  :)

You know what I did learn?  I learned that I am not a professional baker. hahaha - as if I didn't already know that. :)  The pictures in the book show cookies that are all beautiful and perfectly round...not mine.  I did keep them pretty consistent where thickness is concerned, but they were not all the same exact shape or size.  That's alright....if people don't like how they look, they can just put them in my mouth and they won't be able to see them anymore. ;)

The link takes you the page for the cookie recipe....you do have to sign in to view it, but signing in, or up, is free - so go make some!

DIY Test Kitchen Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

American Cheese - Challenge 2013 Recipe #5

I can not recall the last time I purchased American Cheese.  I do love it, but I'm just so leary of the weird chemicals.

Do you remember the old commercials about how Velveeta melts better than Cheddar?  That has been the story of my life for the past 8-9 years.  I LOVE buying organic cheese, the taste is unparalleled and the peace of mind is worth every penny.  But, it just doesn't melt the same way those chemical filled blocks of cheese do.

To give you an example, I tried to make some Gringo Dip from 54th Street Grill (only my favorite dip of all time) and the most horrific mishap of all time caused the cheese to literally take on the texture and taste of clams.  I actually cried....I have never attempted to make it again - I don't think I could take the disappointment. :)

Well, all of your melting worries can....wait for it.....melt away. HAHA

This cheese tastes fantastic and it melts perfectly! I am so excited to have it in my repertoire and lucky for you, this recipe is posted online!! :)

DIY Test Kitchen American Cheese

Hot Cocoa Mix Challenge 2013 Recipe #4

I am not one to crave a cup of Hot Cocoa.  They are always too sweet and never chocolaty enough and just frankly....well, disappointing.

This mix, however, is not disappointing at all!  It is very smooth - not gritty and it doesn't leave that weird residue on the top of your milk.  It is still a bit too sweet for my taste, but that can not be said for everyone else....they LOVE it! 

DIY Test Kitchen Hot Cocoa Mix*

*I can't find a link to the recipe and I'm not comfortable posting recipes out of the cookbook online - so I'll keep checking back periodically and I'll update this post if I can find a link. 

Pickled Beets - Challenge 2013 Recipe #3

Wanna know a secret?  Until I made these beets, I had never had a pickled beet before.

The whole idea just is not at all appealing to me.  But, as I've said quite a few times on here - I LOVE being wrong, especially about food - especially beautiful jewel toned, food.

These were super simple to make and I can't say that I'll be jumping at the chance to eat them everyday, they were SO MUCH BETTER than I thought they'd be.  I can actually see myself reaching for them occasionally.  ;)

DIY Test Kitchen Pickled Beets*

*I can't find a link to the recipe and I'm not comfortable posting recipes out of the cookbook online - so I'll keep checking back periodically and I'll update this post if I can find a link.

Wine Jelly - Challenge 2013 Recipe #2

Wine Jelly....probably not my first choice from the jelly shelf in our fridge - but neither is pepper jelly and you know what - it should be! I LOVE that stuff...I just didn't grow up with it and it doesn't tug at my heart strings like the jam/jelly from my childhood.  This wine jelly is going to be added to the "Why don't I eat this more often?!" list.

It's beautiful, it's sweet, but it's also so grown up.  I'm going to be 31 on Saturday...does that make me a grown up yet?  Most of the time I don't think so...but I still like to put on my mom's heels and pretend. :)

America's Test Kitchen's Wine Jelly

I again, followed the recipe exactly, except that I think I may have reduced the wine down to a little less than 1/3 c - oops!  But, it set beautifully and tastes fantastic - and that's what matters! :)

Orange Marmalade - Challenge 2013 Recipe #1

I don't know if you know this about me, but I'm not very techno-savvy.  I do not own an i-pod, I don't know how to use i-tunes, and I don't even have a single song on my phone....but days like marmalade making day last week.... I sure wish I did.  I wanted so badly to be blasting Lady Marmalade, twirling around my kitchen, singing into a spoon....all while I was cooking away in the kitchen! :)

I was a little nervous about making my first recipe from my challenge, but I decided to just jump on in and my my my....the water is fine and delicious to boot! 

DIY Test Kitchen Seville Orange Marmalade

I followed the recipe exactly (that's part of the Challenge 2013 right?) and this stuff is seriously good!  The first and last time I had orange marmalade I was 18 and it was in one of those tiny little jars at a restaurant....it was terrible.  I can honestly say that if not for this challenge, I would not have even thought of trying it again.  I can't believe I've been missing out on this my whole life! 

I hope the rest of the recipes come out this great because this was a heck of a way to start off the Challenge! :) 

What is Life Without a Challenge?

BORING....that's what. :)

So, in order to keep on keepin' on with the adventure of life, I've decided to work my way through this book  from America's Test Kitchen this year:

SuperMom gave it to me for Christmas and I think that out of all of my gifts, this is the one I am super pumped about!  I think in the whole book there's only one recipe that I'm not over the top excited about, but (as I'm sure you know if you've been around a bit) I'm wrong a lot...so I'm ready to eat my words on that one. :)

Check out these beautiful easy to follow photos!

Completing this goal is sure to be a bit of a challenge seeing as how it will definitely take me out of my cooking boredom comfort zone....quite often....and I will also either be purchasing or borrowing some equipment in order to make a few of the recipes. :)

Here are few recipes that I can look forward to making:

Duck Pancetta

Nutella

Bacon

Maple Cream 

Here's to new adventures - wish me luck!