Flour Power

Came home from work early today for a little R & R (yes, I realize it is only Monday) and decided to make chocolate chip cookies. Mixed everything together and put the first batch in the oven. The moment the scent of fresh baked cookies hit my olfactory I started to drool... and then I opened the oven door to find a dozen pancake flat cookies! At first I thought I didn't add the baking soda but I did... and then I looked at the flour... self rising! Opps... I guess flat homemade cookies are better than no cookies at all!

Happy Birthday Chris!!!

I know, I know... it is a little late! However, the Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes were on time. And YUMMY, if I do say so myself! The frosting was very easy and I used one of the cake mixes I brought back on our February trip to Atlanta. I just cannot match the mix with a made from scratch cake... and without the my stand mixer, I really don't want to try!

Back in the Saddle

The only way to end a cooking hiatus... lamb chops with mint-mustard sauce. The reason for the hiatus is simple... between visitors, traveling and just plain laziness; I had not been to the grocery store in almost 3 weeks! So I grabbed my shopping bags and headed through the park to Whole Foods for a pantry stocking, shopping extravaganza with free delivery!

The best part of the day; a free show in the park! By pure chance (and a little left over luck of the Irish,) I happened upon a man... dancing with a tree! It was actually 2 trees to be precise. He was really getting down and seemed to be keeping time to the song playing on my i-pod! I couldn't help by stop and stare... and at that exact moment he did a pirouette and then kind-of skipped over to the next tree! Once he had finished the maneuver he glance my way and did a little booty shake... it took every ounce of energy I had to not release the roar of laughter in my belly! If I am treated to performances like this every time I go shopping, I might just go more often!

I followed the same route home but he was gone... only to be replaced by a throng of tourists fresh off the buses! Spring in London...

Back to the pan seared lamb chops... I think they may have secured my marriage for another few months ;-) Tonight's menu; Roasted red bell pepper soup to start and a Roasted chicken with pan fries to finish... That should get me well in to 2010!

Until next time!
XOXO

My Shopping Woes

During my short trip back to the states I went to the grocery store, I was almost immediately over whelmed by the choices. The biggest difference between shopping in the states and here is not the walking or the store layouts, it is the amount of choices. Here they may have 2 brands to select from or they may have an organic option but that is it! There is really no need to cost compare because there is usually only a difference of a few pence or nothing at all. Obviously, the larger the store, the large the selection but the largest store in walking range does not offer much to the arena of selection! I am missing the over whelmed feeling I had just a few days ago...

While shopping today I learned that the following two items are difficult if not impossible to find...

1. Swiss Cheese. Yep, good old fashion Baby Swiss, Lacey Swiss... any kind of Swiss, really. I looked amongst all the cheese options and when I had no luck I asked the guy in the deli. I said,"Do you have Swiss cheese?" He said, "Yes, what kind of cheese from Switzerland would you like?" I said, "Swiss." He said.... do I need to go on? I left the store without Swiss cheese.

2. Wham breads. Okay, so this was my mother's term for biscuits, croissant rolls or any other type of bread that comes in a can and is opened by "whamming" it on the counter. I forgot about this until I was in the store today looking for Wham pizza dough and couldn't not even begin to know what to ask the grocer for... Can't you just see me walking up to the stock boy and saying, "Sorry to bother but do you have any wham pizza dough?" The cheese man looked at me like I had 2 heads when I asked for Swiss cheese! I have everything i need to make yummy ham and cheese turnovers... except the turnover!

The good news... I got everything I need to make Balsamic glazed sirloin steak and horseradish, chive baked potatoes! Chris sure is one lucky man!

Until next time. XOXO

Shopping to cook...

I went to the grocery store today... for the 1st time in about 2 weeks. It is clear that I have to start going more often. Chris called just after I got to the store and said he was on his way home. I had him come meet me at the store because only 5 minutes in the door and my basket was over flowing! By the time he arrived and saw what we would have to carry home via foot, he was ready to kill me. And I still had a quarter of the store to go! Opps...

Part of the problem is that I am trying to re-stock my pantry. Small things like spices, pasta, rice, canned goods and the like start to get heavy! I don't need it all at this moment but if I want to get back to cooking on a regular basis I need a full pantry. Add all of this to the standard milk, cereal, coffee, paper towels, etc and well, it is a lot to carry the 5 blocks from the store to the flat.

In the end, I think I made up for it with the southern style pork chops and dill green beans I made for dinner. By the time Chris finishes the chili I am making tomorrow, all should be forgotten... until the next trip ; )

Borough Market

On Saturday morning, Chris and I headed to Borough Market. This is one of the largest and oldest markets in London and is near Chris's office. Not the easiest to get to but it was well worth it once we were there and shopping. It is gigantic and very crowded. Next time we will make sure to get there extra early to beat the tourists!

I bought fresh veggies and herbs. I also went to a butcher and bought pork chops, a whole chicken and chicken cutlets. When we were all finished shopping we headed home to... you guessed it, COOK!!!

Look at me in our tiny kitchen in my Tampa Girl apron! I really missed cooking and was happy to be back at it but I would be a liar if I didn't admit that I really missed my kitchen back in Atlanta. Oh well, I made the best of it and in the end we sat down for some delicious pork chops in a white wine mushroom sauce and sour cream and chive mashed potatoes! Yummy...

Doesn't Chris look happy? Through his clenched teeth he is saying, "Put the camera down and let me eat, woman!"

On Sunday, I roasted a chicken and made sour cream and chive potato pancakes. We had a fresh spinach and rocket salad and yummy Belgium beer!!! I put tarragon, rosemary, sage, thyme, and lemon halves in the bird before I rubbed it down with butter and stuck it in the oven. It turned out to be delicious and the left overs made a great chicken salad to go with my cheddar and chive scones for dinner last night!

On Thursday, I will be making chicken Marsala with sauteed spinach and pine nuts.

Wow... I am a regular Julia Childes! Although, tonight we are have a frozen pizza : )

Come back soon for more kitchen adventures!!!

Hugs and Kisses