Samosas.

Now, I have had "truly home made" (by someone my brother knows) samosas, this gal is from India and they were awesome.  I've also had - I think it's what he made - Brother Made Samosas, that year we got India Cookbooks for Christmas .... and yesterday, whilst I was out and about shopping for a myriad of things I found frozen samosas.  I happened to be at my "local" Asian Supermarket obtaining some more edamame - frozen - and in the same freezer sat a variety of samosas.

WHAT AN AWESOME FIND!!!  Soooooo tasty.  In fact, all I had for dinner last night was Maharaja flavored rice and samosas!!!!  Must. Go. Buy. More.  

Must also try my hand at making them in the near future, what a tasty delight.

PS...frozen edamame, sprinkled with a bit of salt, and "steamed" in the microwave = very tasty and healthy snack.

Wings for Super Bowl Sunday (yesterday...)

Right, so while I don't actually watch American Football ... I do usually "watch" the Super Bowl.  Had it on last night ... Beyonce's half time show was not good, nor were the commercials.  AND there was a blackout in the dome.  In truth, I didn't even watch the end of the game.

BUT, but but but ... I DID MAKE CHICKEN WINGS - for the first time ever!

And they were tasty. 

And they are easy to make.

HOW TO:
Place frozen wings in baking dish.
Melt 1/4 cup butter and 1 cup Red Hot hot sauce.
Pour over frozen wings. 
"Toss" wings a bit to make sure sauce is allllll over them.
Bake at 400degrees for 35-45 minutes.
(Turning wings a few times during the process.)
Take out.
Let cool a little.
Eat.
Enjoy.

Hot Chocolate and Grand Marnier

Like chocolate and orange together (I DO)?  Well, I had some Grand Marnier is the house and decided to try a bit of it in a cup of hot chocolate.  YUMMO!  

Easy to make...
Boil water.
Add hot chocolate powder.
Stir.
Add Grand Marnier.
Stir again.

DRINK!

Marzipan Penguins

So I decided to try and make some fun marzipan Penguins at Christmas time this year.  I found the marzipan - in an off white color - at a local fresh food market - which is a great market by the by, but I digress.  Then I took a little and experimented with food coloring to get the beak and foot color as well as how to get a color for their bodies - as close to black as I could get.  Not bad for a first try at something I've never done and had no "instructions for," right?  :)

Here's how they came out (I think they look a little like Alien Penguins ...)

Lemon Salmon

I made a tasty dish tonight, Lemon Salmon.  Simple and delish!

I baked the Salmon steak - having squeezed half of a fresh lemon onto it, and then adding a sprinkle of fresh cracked pepper and ground himalayan salt, topped with a slice of fresh lemon.

While it was baking I steamed some fresh broccoli, AND sauteed one onion (sliced), in butter with a bit of fresh ground pepper and fresh lemon juice.  At the last minute I added fresh spinach and cooked it down.

I plated the meal on a bed of spiral pasta ... looked good and tasted fab!  Easy, quick and pretty healthy!

Thanksgiving!

I've only been in my apartment since the middle of September and I've already hosted my first holiday! It was a small gathering, after all it's not a terribly large apartment, but the feast was grand!

Pre-dinner Table Set Up

Appetizers ... yummo!

Dinner is served!

I delight in cooking for others!

I love to cook.  We've established this already, no?!  I love to try new things ... also established ... even if I'm trying something new when company is coming, yet again an established 'fact' about moi.

But you know what, cooking for yourself - though a delight for sure (if you like cooking) - pales in comparison to cooking for others.  Sharing a meal with family and friends is such a great feeling.  I know I'm sounding like a giant dork right now (and I am one...) but it's true.

One of my younger cousins was staying with me for a few weeks, while he searched for an apartment, and there was something very satisfying about coming home, cooking dinner and then "calling him" to the table to share the meal.

Plus, all the fun and fancy kitchen items that I own are more fun to use when others are around to see them and share in their use - like eating a good guac out of my molcajete for example.

At the moment I am working on my Thanksgiving Menu.  It'll be just me and my folks at my place, so though the portions need not be large, it's not Thanksgiving without the staples...I'm sure more Turkey Day Posts will follow.