Tostones

May 20, 201011 Comments

Since I last posted… I’ve finished finals, packed some stuffed, said some sad goodbyes and flown across the country. But before that, I went to a small potluck. As I was trying to use up everything in my kitchen, I made tostones from 2 green plantains I had sitting in my kitchen.

Tostones are fried green plantains eaten throughout the Caribbean. This recipe is courtesy of my sister who lived in the Dominican Republic for 3 years.

Tostones

2 green plantains
oil for frying
salt

Peel and slice your plantains into 3/4 inch-1 inch rounds.

Heat oil in a pan. Fry rounds until golden

Transfer to a paper towel lined cutting board (or on the counter is fine, it’ll just get oily).

Cover with another paper towel or two and using your hand mash into a thin circle. You can make them as thin or thick as you’d like. I like them pretty thin.

Fry again. Once they are golden transfer them to a paper towel lined plate and salt.

Serve on their own or with ketchup (or really any dipping sauce).

Fun, easy treat for a small gathering.

Coming up soon… another unhealthy way to eat a plantain!

Have a great night!

Double Chocolate Coconut Cookies

May 15, 201017 Comments

Summer is slowly starting to creep its way out into Ithaca, which means a variety of things:
1. My apartment turns into an oven.
2. It’s humid outside.
3. I can wear dresses again.

Let’s talk about #3. Before moving to Ithaca, I basically wore dresses all the time (as in I probably only owned 2 pairs of pants). Then winter in Ithaca happened and my body was confused so I broke down and bought some pants and snow boots. Not a happy camper.

I was born to wear dresses.

Some women look amazing in short skirts, others in long straight legs jeans.

Me? I can rock a dress like no other.

So naturally when it was 80 degrees out for our department barbecue, I decided a dress was in order. Silly me, I forgot about the fact that the barbecue was on the lake, meaning it would be colder and windier than around my house. Despite being bummed that I was cold and worrying my dress would fly up at any moment pretty much the whole time, I had a fun time.

At the very least, I looked cute and brought tasty cookies to share.

Double Chocolate Coconut Cookies

adapted from Foodess Double Chocolate Coconut Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup + 2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup (ish)chocolate chips
1 cup dried coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Pre-heat oven to 350. Cream together butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix until combined. Fold in chocolate chips, coconut and walnuts. Drop tablespoon sized balls of dough onto a greased cookie sheet, bake for about 12 minutes.

Cool and serve with a (martini) glass of milk.

What were you born to wear?

Baking Break

May 12, 20109 Comments

It feels like Saturday in November.

It’s 43 degrees out, and I went to a bar last night. That does not scream May in the middle of study week. But don’t go thinking I’m some sort of hoodlum. I managed to write a full draft of a 15 page paper on urban gardens and get through a poster session. A gin and tonic or two was earned.

This morning, while I edited my paper and waited for the gym to open (1pm, seriously?), I decided baking was in order. After all, what makes a cold study day better than a warm muffin?

Apple Muffins

1/2 cup almond butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sour milk (or probably regular milk, juice, water, etc)
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt (unless your AB is salted)
3 small apples, peeled, cored and diced

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine wet ingredients, add dry ingredients (minus apples) and combine. Fold in apples. Fill lined or greased muffin tin (almost full) and bake 20-22 minutes. Allow to cool and then give them away to all your studying (or hung over) friends!

Anyhoo… hope you’re all having a fantastic week. Back to paper editing and studying!

Spicy Chocolate Cupcakes and Fried Plantains

May 7, 201016 Comments

It’s the last day of class!

I woke up this morning pretty excited about the last day of class. I threw on my gym clothes, walked to the gym only to find that it was closed because of Slope Day! So apparently Slope Day is a big deal. Essentially, people get drunk in the morning then go to “the slope” (large hill on campus) where there is a concert.

I was pretty bummed about the gym situation, but figured it’s okay. Instead of trying to find alternative means of exercise (i.e. go for a run) I decided going home and having breakfast was a better idea, so here I am.

But let’s backtrack to yesterday…

I had a potluck for my Urban Transformations in the Global South class. You can probably guess that I brought dessert. I tried to keep with the “Global South” theme. Inspired by Guatemalan Platanos en Mole, I made Spicy Chocolate Cupcakes topped with a fried plantain.

Spicy Chocolate Cupcakes

2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cayenne
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable/canola oil
1 cup boiling water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl and stir together. Add all the wet ingredients minus the boiling water and mix together. As you mix the batter, add the boiling water. Pour into lined cupcake pan (fill half way). This batter is really watery/runny so be careful!

Bake for 18-20 minutes. Makes about 30 cupcakes

Frost with Spicy Chocolate Frosting and top with a fried plantain.

Spicy Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
few shakes of cinnamon
few shakes of cayenne

Combine all ingredients and mix with a hand mixer until it reaches the right consistency, add more powdered sugar if too runny.

I was talking to a friend a few days ago, and he said he really wasn’t sure what to do with a plantain since he didn’t really see it as a child. In light of that I thought I’d do a little plantain tutorial.

If you’re going to make fried, sweet plantains you want a really ripe plantain. Basically you want it to look like it’s going bad:

If you’re making a South Asian dish or something like tostones, you want a green plantain. But for now, I’m working with the super ripe!

Cut off the ends

Cut skin off lengthwise and peel.

Slice as desired. Since I was using this as cupcake toppers I cut them in circles (ish), but for fried plantains like you would get at a Cuban restaurants cut them thicker and slightly diagonal.

Put some oil in a pan (enough to coat the bottom) and heat. Once the oil is hot (but not too hot). Add plantains.

Keep the flame on low and cook until golden brown on one side. Then flip over and continue to cook.

They will probably take about 10 minutes to cook through. Then transfer them to a papertowel lined dish to soak up some of the excess oil.

Enjoy!

I loved when I walked into my apartment later in the day and it smelled like fried plantains. Reminds me of home! (Can’t wait to go home in 11 days!)

I should probably get ready for class! Have a wonderful day!

Hot in Hurrrrr

May 2, 201015 Comments

I’m not entirely sure why but despite the fact that it was in the 80s today and I live on the third floor of a building that does not have air conditioning, I turned the oven on twice. It’s so hot in hurrr my coconut oil is entirely liquid:

I keep it on my dresser and put it on my face before going to bed. I have some SERIOUS dry skin! Hopefully sweaty summer will make that all better and I can keep this coconut oil for cooking!

But I digress…I cooking was my way of dealing with Sunday?

Or something…

Tomorrow is the last day of the Spanish discussion section I TA. Naturally, we’re having a party. Naturally, that also means I made a sweet treat.

Vegan Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies

adapted from Mama Pea’s White Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup almond butter
1/4 cup vegan butter (I used EarthBalance)
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup soymilk
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup cane sugar
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 cup oats
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt (omit salt if you used salted almond butter)
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 and turn on some Beyonce/Shakira.

In a bowl combine the wet ingredients and the sugars, once those are combined, add the dry ingredients except the cherries and chocolate. Shake your booty a little bit (especially if Shakira’s Did It Again comes on) then fold in the cherries and chocolate.

Plop golf ball sized lumps of dough onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-15 minutes depending on the size of your cookies.

To counteract the vegan-ness, enjoy with a glass of milk (or if you’re like me… lactaid)!

After cleaning up and attempting to get some reading done for a few hours, I decided I should probably have dinner. For some reason, I decided to get creative and for some reason that had to involve the oven again, again Beyonce and Shakira kept me company, this time Rihanna joined in on the fun.

Polenta Pizza

1 cup cornmeal
3 cups water
1 tsp salt
1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp minced garlic
~1 cup pasta sauce
1-2 huge handfuls of spinach, chopped
4 oz mozzarella cheese
3 artichoke hearts, chopped

Step 1: Make Polenta
Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees. In a pot combine the cornmeal, water and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Keep cooking, stirring constantly for another 5 minutes at least (at this point your should pretty much just be swinging your hips to the beat). Then transfer and spread polenta on a greased baking sheet (totally forgot to grease mine). Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare toppings
Heat olive oil in a pan, add onions, garlic and red peppers. Cook on med/low heat for about 10 minutes until tender and tasty! Mini dance party for 10 minutes while it all cooks… or you could wash some dishes… then add spinach, stir around til spinach is wilted (about 2 minutes).

Step 3: Prep Pizza
Spread pasta sauce on polenta, top with veggies, cheese and artichokes, bake for another 5-10 minutes.

Pretty tasty! I was pleased! My friend, Liz, came over and enjoyed with me. She liked it too!

I should probably stop dancing around the house and read, or at least go to bed so I can make the most of tomorrow.

Have a great night!

Super Saver Banana Pudding

May 1, 2010May 1, 20106 Comments

Happy Derby Day!

Did you all watch the most exciting 2 minutes in sports?

I went to a Derby Day party. In the spirit of southern hospitality, I brought banana pudding.

Banana Pudding

from all recipe Banana Pudding IV

8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
14oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 (50z) package vanilla instant pudding
3 cups cold milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 (80z) container whipped topping, thawed
3-4 sliced bananas
1 box Nilla wafers

Layer 9×13 dish with Nilla wafers.

Next add a layer of banana

Beat together cream cheese, condensed milk, pudding, vanilla and milk, then fold in the whipped topping. Pour over the wafers and bananas.

Decorate with extra Nilla Wafers! Chill for a few hours!

I didn’t actually try this since the lactose intolerance has been acting up significantly lately. I hope people liked it! I thought it looked pretty at least. I also got a work out hauling it to my friend’s house!

I should probably be going to bed, but really I just want to watch a movie and spoon… not gonna happen.

Have a great night!

Pear Cardamom Cupcakes with Sweet Rose Frosting

April 25, 2010April 25, 20108 Comments

It’s that day again (you know the one…), but I’m going to ignore it and just be a happy camper, because really that’s the best way to be. I’m generally a happy person. I smile a lot and can laugh at pretty much anything (i.e. when I fell down the stairs on campus a few weeks ago).

Sometimes I wonder if I should even bother doing serious things in life.

While I figure that out, I’ll stick to my hobby and potentially only real skill in life: baking.

Pear Cardamom Cupcakes

1 very ripe pear, peeled and finely chopped/mashed
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1/2 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 pinches of baking soda
1 tsp cardamom
1/3 cup of milk

Preheat oven to 350. Combine mashed pear, oil, vanilla and sugar. Add one egg at a time until blended together. Add dry ingredients, mix until just combined. Gradually add milk, stir until well blended.

Pour batter into paper lined cupcake pan. Bake 15-20 mins. Makes 12 cupcakes. Once completely cooled, frost with Sweet Rose Frosting:

Sweet Rose Frosting

1/4 cup butter, softened
1-2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp rose water

Whip together all ingredients. Frost cupcakes. Enjoy!

I love rose flavored sweets. They make me want to smile.

Enjoy your Sunday! Hope you have better weather than we do here!

Bagels!

April 23, 201016 Comments

Happy Friday!

I wish I could be more excited that it’s the weekend but I have a ton of work to do. However, tonight is the Grad Prom Ball! I have a ridiculous bright yellow dress! (Pictures to come)

Let’s back track to last night… After an intense class, I needed to bake. Thus, Bagels…

2 kinds: Multi-grain and Cinnamon Raisin

For the multi-grain bagels, I used this recipe. For the cinnamon raisin bagels, I used my go to bagel recipe but added about a tablespoon of cinnamon and a box of raisins.

The cinnamon raisin looked prettier:

But the Multi-grain tasted amazing!

It is my mission to perfect these multi-grain bagels! You may see them again in the near future!

I should probably go get ready… Have a great night!!

This there a recipe you’re trying to perfect? I will conquer these bagels!

No Go…

April 19, 201013 Comments

I spent the better part of my day avoiding work. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me. Usually on Mondays I’m ready to go, but today was a no go!

I woke up at 6:30am hoping to be at the gym by the time it opened at 7:00am. Didn’t end up getting there til 7:30am. Intended to spend 45 minutes on the treadmill doing a variety of intervals. Ended up doing 22 mins on the treadmill and 23 minutes on the elliptical. Not feeling the gym today.

After the gym, I got ready for class, lost track of time, missed a few buses and never made it to class… instead I went to the library where I attempted to read only to end up taking a nap! What’s wrong with me?!?

I was definitely feeling a little off today.

When I got home this evening, I decided dinner and cooking would cheer me up. I enjoyed two bowls of homemade black bean soup with greek yogurt mixed in.

I also made some pasta sauce.

And some vegan pear muffins

Random… I know…

They were an experiment, not sure they were good enough to post the recipe.

Then I took an almost 2 hour nap…

I need Monday to be over. I’m ready for bed.

My goal for tomorrow is to smile at least 10 times and get work done! Who’s with me?

I Hate Sunday

April 18, 201019 Comments

Sunday is my least favorite day of those days that we consider “the weekend.”

Let’s be realistic. Sunday is a jerk.

Friday is exciting. It’s the beginning of the weekend, and you’re ready to relax. He’s like the cute boy you have a crush on and can’t wait to see.

Saturday is great. You can sleep in, go to the farmer’s market, watch shows you’ve been waiting all week to catch up on, stay up late with friends knowing that it doesn’t really matter what time you wake up the next day. He’s the boy that takes you on fun dates.

Then Sunday… There’s the expectation that you were lazy all weekend and should probably get something done. The lazy lounging around that makes Saturday so blissful is replaced by the guilt that you should be getting work done while your brain tells you that it’s still the weekend. He’s the boy you’ve been with far too long for your own good and should probably break up with to maintain your sanity.

This specific Sunday, today, was particularly unproductive. I opened readings, read the first paragraph and got distracted. I went to the computer lab and got little done. I lost my student ID and didn’t go to the gym. I ate about 15 oreos… maybe more.

I managed to redeem myself with dinner, featuring pee’s best friend: asparagus.