other stuff

my favorite recipes of 2009

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:36:38 GMT

my favorite recipes of 2009

here are 16 of my favorite recipes from 2009. i am pretty sure i could have easily chosen them all, but here are the top recipes in my book. in no particular order...

chocolate raspberry layer cake with chocolate ganache frosting

i love making layer cakes. this cake was not only fun to make it was amazing. the raspberry in-between the layers of chocolate - amazing.

orzo with roasted vegetables

i am not joking when i tell you i have made this probably 20 times this year. it is a perfect dish. everyone can find something they love about it. i made it for christmas this year and it was a hit with all the carnivores.

monkey bread

ahhh...monkey bread. i am pretty sure i could force myself to eat this everyday for breakfast without a problem. it is ooey and gooey and perfect. i was really surprised when i made it the first time. i thought it would be too sweet - but it certainly wasn't.

herb & spice roasted vegetables with red wine & mushroom gravy

this is known as "thanksgiving dinner" at our house. this dish single-handedly took away all my fears about becoming a vegetarian. this recipe proved to me you could still have a hearty and comforting meal without meat. i make it every year for thanksgiving and whenever alex asks for it (which is often).

roasted potato leek soup

i already had a potato leek soup recipe that i loved, but when i saw Ina make this i knew i would be adding a second. roasting the potatoes and leeks transforms this well loved soup into something totally new. the addition of arugula makes it even better because it is better for you.

vodka penne - penne alla vodka

the dish i like to say i am famous for. i have made this so many times i have lost count. i have entertained friends, family and clients with this perfect pasta. it is a winner every single time.

buttermilk chocolate cupcakes with vanilla bean buttercream

i chose these because they brought me a ton of happiness this year. i got to make them for a wedding shower for my wonderful new sister-in-law. i also made them to donate to the Big Brothers Big Sisters bake sale. it is really great when you get to do something you love to do for a good cause and to celebrate important milestones in people's lives. and they are really darn good cupcakes!

roasted vegetable ragu

this recipe came out of the sad realization that i could no longer make my really wonderful ragu anymore since i stopped eating meat. i was almost in tears every time i thought about it until i made this. again, it goes to show you absolutely can create those comfort food moments without meat.

bell pepper and olive pasta

i heart Deborah Madison. she gives us vegetarians really stunning recipes. this pasta is so simple but so complex in flavor. it is really is a wonderful dish of pasta. i just made it for two of my dearest friends a couple weeks ago and got to remember how really special it is.

lemon poppy seed pancakes

i love breakfast for dinner. it just feels fun and special, to do something out of the ordinary. when i do breakfast for dinner it is almost always pancakes. these pancakes are not only incredible - they were featured on glamour.com!

black bean tacos with feta and cabbage slaw

when i first came across this recipe i scrunched up my face and flipped past. it sounded like the strangest combination of ingredients ever. but there was something about it that wouldn't allow me to ignore it. i am really glad i took the risk because it was definitely one of the best dinners i made this year. amazing flavor combination!

cheesy baked artichoke dip

my quest for the perfect artichoke dip came to a wonderful end this year. i think i have tested that recipe more than any other. this is the perfect artichoke dip - i promise. best of all it was featured on Saveur.com Best of the Web.

crispy salted oatmeal white chocolate cookies

i get an amazing amount of inspiration from Deb at Smitten Kitchen. she always makes mouthwatering food. these cookies are truly mouthwatering. the sprinkle of fleur de sel on top makes them memorable.

tortellini salad with cranberries pecans and feta

this salad was a hit this year and i owe it all to alex's mom. who would have thought pasta and lettuce could team up so well.

garlicy hummus

hummus was one of those foods i convinced myself i didn't like without ever having tried it. i am so glad i gave it a chance. i am addicted to the stuff now. try these baked pita chips with it.

vanilla bean rice pudding

it was a year of firsts food wise for me. i had never eaten a spoonful of rice pudding until this year. i was really missing out. i always look forward to reading Molly Wizenberg's column in Bon Appetit. i love her recipes and her writing is so easy to enjoy. this recipe is from her column and is simply wonderful.

i thought i would also include the 10 most popular recipes on picky cook for 2009. in order of popularity...

1. molten chocolate cakes with raspberry coulis
2. raspberry white chocolate scones
3. monkey bread
4. caramel peanut topped brownie cake
5. parmesan pull-apart rolls
6. cheesy baked artichoke dip
7. sprinkles strawberry cupcakes with strawberry frosting
8. roasted potato leek soup
9. soft pretzels
10. lemon curd desserts

thanks to all of you for a wonderful 2009. your support make this so much fun.
here is to a wonderful 2010 - cheers!
- kristin

p.s. in case you are interested here are my favorite recipes from 2008

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apple and pear compote

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:36:36 GMT

alex is a pear and apple junkie. when i came across this recipe while looking for something to serve with vanilla bean rice pudding i knew i would have to make it for him. turns out that the vanilla bean rice pudding didn't need anything extra but i am still glad i discovered this recipe because it is damn good and versitle.

the apples and pears hold their texture well in this compote. i was a little nervous about the apple cider vinegar but it really gives this a complex flavor. i had to substitute apple juice for apple cider but adding some spices made it very similar.

i have included some serving suggestions at the bottom of the post.

btw...alex loved it and so did i.

apple and pear compote
adapted from Wegmans

2 cups apple cider
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp unsalted butter, divided
2 medium (about 1 lb total) Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, small diced
2 medium (about 1 1/2 lbs total) Bartlett pears, peeled, cored, small diced
1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise

Combine apple juice, vinegar, and brown sugar in medium saucepan. Simmer on medium-high, uncovered, stirring occasionally until reduced to 2 Tbsp, 15-20 min. (Be careful - it turns the corner QUICK!)

Melt 1 tsp butter in saute pan on medium. Add apples, pears, and vanilla bean. Cook 3-4 min until softened. Scrape tiny seeds from vanilla bean into fruit mixture - discard pod. Stir in reduced apple cider glaze to finish apple & pear compote. Cool to room temp.

Serve with....

- Vanilla Bean Rice Pudding
- French Toast
- Buttermilk Pancakes
- Porridge
- Ice Cream
- by itself!

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my favs of 2008

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:36:35 GMT

my favs of 2008

personally - i am really glad 2008 is over. way too many ups and downs for my liking. i am really hoping 2009 has more ups than downs.

one of the ups was this website. thank you all for your support and kind comments. i really love the pickycook and have such fun baking and cooking. i thought it would be fun to try to pick my favorite recipes of 2008. it was hard - but here it goes....

it was difficult to pick only 9 (in honor of 2009) - and trust me when i say i could have easily picked them all. but here they are in no particular order.

cinnamon rolls with vanilla cream cheese frosting

i was terrified to make these but i love a good cinnamon roll so i went for it. the first time i made them - not good. but the second time - oh my lord. they were tender and not too sweet - basically perfect. yea yeast seems scary, but try them - you won't be disappointed.

madeleines

i am crazy about lots of things but madeleines are definitely atop the list. whenever i see them in a cafe i buy them and i always wanted to try to make them cuz i knew i could make them even better than the ones i buy. after purchasing the madeleine pan and hunting for a bunch of recipes - i went for it. they are the most delectable little bites of moist cake.

vegetable minestrone

i think soup is one of the most often disappointing foods people make. it is often under-seasoned and mushy - gross. i made several soups this year and this is the most recent. this vegetable minestrone is flavorful, hearty and so not mushy. and the parmesan rind trick - i am gonna use that in any soup i can from now on.

penne with 5 cheeses

if you are a regular reader of this website - you should know of my total and utter complete infatuation with the great one - ina garten. i don't just love her - i worship her. our outlook/philosophy on food is almost identical - simple, classic, flavorful food - you can't go wrong with it. this dish - penne with 5 cheeses - hits the mark on all accounts.

potato leek soup

i think this was my most viewed page of the year (penne with 5 cheese was a close second) and rightfully so. it - i believe - is a great potato soup. its chunky and creamy but not heavy. the crusty croutons on top make it so much better.

buttermilk berry muffins

like i said in the original post of this recipe - if i had time to bake every morning, this is what i would make - hands down. they are so satisfying - one muffin is enough. they keep well and don't loose their wonderful moisture. the buttermilk and orange zest makes these muffins something you will never forget. you will crave them when they are gone.

raspberry oatmeal bars

i have really never considered myself a "bar" person. i usually find them to be dry and blah. when i found this recipe it intrigued me enough to print it out. it sat in my "recipes to make" pile for awhile - and one sunday i was moved to make them. i had the idea to mix fresh raspberries into the "filling" portion of the recipe and that was it. i am now a raspberry oatmeal bar person. i have made them a half dozen times now and every time i get pissed because they never last very long - someday i will get smart and make two batches so i can have leftovers.

roasted vegetables with mushroom gravy

i made this dish the first thanksgiving after i stopped eating meat. the idea of thanksgiving without turkey really depressed me. what about the gravy on the mashed potatoes - i had no idea how i would get through the dinner. then this dished happened. the gravy - is so flavorful - and the veggies are a great main dish. needless to say - i don't miss turkey any longer.

vanilla pudding

whenever i thought about vanilla pudding - the only image that came to mind is that stuff they call pudding in the snack packs. i had never had homemade pudding. trust me when i say i view pudding in a different way now. i made this for my family as an easter dessert and it was a hit. the chocolate shaved with a vegetable peeler is a perfect topping. the best part the pudding keeps in the fridge very well.

I wish all of you a happy, healthy and delicious 2009!
kristin

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other stuff

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:36:33 GMT

egg salad sandwiches

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:36:35 GMT

i love egg salad but i am not a fan of egg yolks and i believe mustard makes egg salad - so there is lots in here. the lemon brightens it all up.

egg salad sandwiches

6 hard boiled eggs (yolks removed and chopped into chucks)
1/2 cup mayo
2 tbs mustard
1 tbs white wine vinegar
salt
pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
zest of lemon
juice of lemon
your favorite bread or rolls

in a bowl combine all ingredients minus eggs and bread. take to see if it needs more mustard or vinegar. toss in eggs.

toast the bread and pile on egg salad....sit back and enjoy

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