Week 3: Potato, Leek and Fennel Soup

So, with my work being focused on youth engagement around gardening, I tend to get sent home with a ton of veggies, besides our CSA box each week (which thankfully ends in three weeks). So, Lee and I have been looking for ways to use our veggies creatively. This week, we had a ton of potatoes and leeks, and we also got a few bulbs of fennel. I decided to use epicurious.com to find something with "potato leek fennel". And, of course, they had a recipe!

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
• 2 cups sliced leeks (white and pale green parts only)
• 2 cups sliced fennel bulb, fronds reserved for garnish
• 4 14 1/2-ounce cans low-salt chicken broth
• 2 pounds red-skinned potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 4 cups)

I sauted the leeks and fennel in the butter until the leeks were translucent. I then added the potatoes and chicken broth. After boiling the soup until the potatoes were extra tender, I took it off the stove and blended it all so it was a cream soup. So tasty!! I should have added more fennel, but it was a great comfort food for the evening :)

bis morgen,
des

Week 2: Pumpkin Chocolate Muffins

So, I haven't been quite baking/cooking once a week (and posting) like I should, but I'll attempt to post when I can. For my second baking experiment, I made pumpkin chocolate muffins. I spent Saturday with our interns outside giving historical tours of a nature sanctuary. The program manager and I decided to bring treats to "sweeten" the deal for our interns ;)

They sound fancy, but I swear, they are super easy and tasty! Lee and I make them all the time for different events if we have to bring a dish. All you need is a can of pumpkin and your favorite cake mix (of course, for chocolate, you need chocolate!). You combine the dry cake mix with the can of pumpkin. (no other ingredients!) Once mixed, pour into muffin pan (spray with a cooking spray to prevent sticking). I baked it at 350 degrees for about 16 minutes and checked with a toothpick. Beautiful!

The best part of these muffins is that they are incredibly moist, low in calories, and high in fiber. Great for breakfast or afternoon snack!

bis morgen,
des

Week 1: Apple Pie with Cinnamon Crumble Top

My first week attempt at baking has been a success! I used a frozen pie crust, my mothers lovingly executed pre-made pie filling and a cinnamon/brown sugar crumble top that I whipped up. I was a little anxious to have a piece, so I cut into it while it was still warm. It tasted amazing!! I have the remaining pie in the refrigerator so that the filling with firm up, but I am SO impressed! Since I was using precooked apples, I only had to bake it at 400 degrees for 35min. Excellent, I tell you. I used tin foil for the last few minutes to make sure the brown sugar didn't burn.

Next week, "Pumpkin Cheesecake in a Gingersnap Crust" from allrecipes.com. I love the fall, and I feel the need to try something with pumpkin in it-and I need to use my spring form pan more! I'm not sure when I'll make it, as we are leaving next Friday at 7am for La Crosse and not coming back until late Sunday evening.

The remainder of this week, excluding baking, has been fabulous. I was a little bummed on Tuesday when I took my ring in for its 6 month cleaning and discovered that I had two loose stones! I had to leave it for a week :(

On Friday, we spent the evening at Lori and Randy's new duplex grilling out and having a great time. Saturday morning was dedicated to car maintenance and catching up with the MURP ladies over some great food and drinks at the Wilde Roast Cafe. Saturday night, Lee and I headed over to play Euchre with another couple and finalize Oktoberfest plans for next weekend. I am looking forward to a weekend of La Crosse, family, and outdoor drinking!

Bis morgen,
Des

A brand new twist!

Hey there!

So, it has been a while since I've posted to the blog...I know. I KNOW!! But, I promise to post at least once a week from here on out. You may be wondering, why? Well,I'll tell you!

I've been asked to be a personal attendant in my good friends wedding. To help count down the weeks to the wedding, I've decided to bake something tasty once a week and detail it on le blog! This week will be "Apple Pie". Creative, right?

Don't worry, I'll also try to be a little more motivated to post about my daily life as well :) Although, Lee and I have been a little boring lately!

bis morgen,
des

Prom 2009

Lee and I officially survived Prom :) Each year, the Humphrey has a spring banquet that everyone calls "Prom". We get all dressed up, pay a bunch of money to get crappy food and dance all night!

I started out the day meeting up with Lori and heading to her place to get ready. Since I still needed to shower, she brought her stuff over to my place and we finished up at le apartment. Lori was AMAZING enough to do my hair, even though I gave her crap at first because it didn't look anything like I thought it would.





The night went well. I got a cute dress from the outlet mall with cute hot pink heels and a hot pink tank to match. We arrived a little late, but Jess and James saved us a seat :) It was one of the last times I'll be able to see good friends and have good times as the semester draws to an end. Special thanks to the hubby for taking everyone home early and then picking me up when the party ended!

I was able to survive the weekend and put together my draft capstone paper to top it all off. Now I have a week to catch up on other things :)

Iowa City, Ya'll

We officially survived Iowa City!

Jessi and I took a 5 + hour trip down to see our great friend Jaci. We haven't had a road trip in AGES but it was so refreshing! Even though the Garmin got lost in Iowa, we didn't :)

Jessi was super sweet and came to Minneapolis to pick me up. We headed out around 11am on Thursday, so we were able to get to Iowa City by 4:30ish. Jaci was probably the greatest hostess ever and cooked up lamb chops with asparagus and roasted red potatoes..delish! We each had a glass of wine and chated into the wee hours of the evening. I was a party pooper and headed to bed sometime after midnight, but we were up and at em' by 930 the next morning. Again, Jaci had a whole breakfast "menu" to cook for us.

We spent Saturday walking through Iowa City and seeing some of the "cool spots". It was gorgeous, so walking all day was fantastic. We headed back to the house and were treated to a fantastic dish of Eggplant Parmesean. Now, I've never had this before, but it was tasty! I didn't like the skins, but I definitely love the dish!!

The highlight of the weekend definitely was getting to see Jaci again (we haven't seen her since Jessi's wedding 5 years ago...) BUT, she did teach us how to KNIT! I am in love with it! I found classes I can start in the middle of April and Lee is behind me 100%. I realized I don't have an outlet or a hobby, and it was a perfect opportunity to find one!! I also have the guitar, but I think I'll start that after I get an official and "grown up" job :)

I'll keep you posted on my knitting :)

bis morgen,
des

Gasthof!

Yay for German dinners and accordion players! Lee's parents came up on Sunday and took us out for a funfilled dinner at Gasthof's! It was so amazing! I haven't had schnitzel that good since I WAS in Germany! Everyone was wearing what you would imagine to be old school german atire. I had SO much fun!

The break on Sunday was welcomed after spending the rest of the weekend writing my paper on suburbanization...yuck. I did get to see BJ Novak on Saturday night at the University as he was doing a standup show...and I got to help Nina celebrate her birthday Saturday night as well!

I'm currently studying for a written midterm on Thursday morning...but I was a little disappointed with my 1.5 credit class that ends this week. Instead of the promised week to write our take home exam, she isn't giving it to us until tomorrow and expects it to be done by Saturday morning...I am leaving town Friday afternoon, so I get to cram through my take home in only a few hours on Thursday...SO BUMMED!! I hope it isn't long and I don't do horribly on it...

I'm a little frustrated with how I have no time this semester to sit back and relax. Even now I feel bad writing. But, I guess that is the life of a grad student, right? SOMEDAY I'll be able to enjoy my spare time :)

bis morgen,
des