the GREATEST

I love finding good things! Things that works, that you can rely on. Like a really great recipe, or a cleaner...you name it. I am going to share with you some of my favorite 'greatest' things!

The Greatest Roasted Chicken

It's called 'Engagement Chicken' because it's so good that when you make it for your boyfriend, he will propose soon after! It's a Barefoot Contessa classic. So simple. Seriously it's the best roasted chicken I've ever had and/or made. I can always count on it, always rely on it being amazing every.single.time. The chicken is salty and crispy, the onions are slightly burned on the edges. And the pan juices are blow your mind delish. My tweaks: when I don't have wine [or am to lazy to make the sauce, or would rather drink the wine] I just skip it completely and you don't even miss it. Pair with some lovely Basmati and roasted Asparagus and you have yourself a fancy week night meal.

The Greatest Banana Bread

I have searched HIGH and low for the perfect banana bread recipe and by George, I think I've got it. I did tweak it a bit: I halved the sugar to 1/2 cup [and it's still sweet enough] & added a generous teaspoon of lemon zest. The lemon added that perfect lightness and tang. If you are feeling super saucy you can add a crumble on top [which I do every time but that's besides the point] of butter and brown sugar.

The Greatest Water Bottle

I bought Rue a Camelbak and we have used it every day since. It's so great because it doesn't leak, it's large enough for us both to use it and it's kid friendly.

The Greatest Stainless Steel Cleaner

Bar Keeper's Friend. Stuff is amaze-balls. This cleaner is to stainless steel what Chuck Norris is to your face. Roundhouse kick dunzo! It also cleans sinks, ovens [which came in handy after our bacon grease oven fire a few weekends ago] tubs etc.

The Greatest Stain Remover

The Magic Eraser. I was very skeptical at first, but now I'm a believer. I had some wicked stains in my claw foot tub that I couldn't remove, not even with bleach. Magic Eraser got 'em out. It's scary. Who knows what the heck is IN that thing and how BAD it is for the environment, but I'll take another box please.

The Greatest Flour

I bake as often as my skinny jeans allow. Bread, muffins, pancakes & pizza taste best with all purpose white flour, but dohhhh! Not so good for the body. Which lead me to this: King Arthur Flour. It's an all natural, unbleached white whole wheat flour that tastes almost as good at the white stuff. It has a good texture and isn't too grainy. Bakes great.

And there you have it. Some of my favorite 'greatest' things. Dang, too bad a girl can't get endorsements, 'cause I'd be rollin' in the deep by now. Got any favorites you could share?

xo, Y

I knead a man

My fiesty 83 year old Bulgarian Grandma is an amazing cook. 83 years is a long time to perfect the skillz. She's the kind of cook who can take some beans, carrots, a few onions, garlic and with a swirl of her magic finger, the most humble ingredients turn into something that will melt your face off. I know from experience; I am still scraping my face off the dining room floor from last night's meal.

She was here this week for Rue's birthday and today she showed me how to make bread. She has shown me before but this time I was the one making; she was supervising and inserting her very poignant comments. Of course no one could do it perfectly [like her] but I kept making away regardless. She kept interrupting my knead to show me the 'Korekt' way of doing it. Try to imagine her strong accent. 'Lesss feeengers, moorrRe hend'

[which interprets: 'stop kneading like a fool woman-child! Must I do everything for you?]

Well G-ma, if you don't try, you can't learn. And learnt I did, and HOT DAYUM, the bread 'twas DIVINE. It rose like a champ and baked perfectly. My house smelled like an old world whole in the wall bakery. [ok, that's a bit over the top...but you can smell it can't you!?]

Would you like the recipe?

Goes a little something like this:

Yana: Gma, how much flour?

Gma: [shrugs shoulder and tosses hands in air flippantly] half bag.

Y: Half bag?? Okay.

G: Add the YEASTER with Varm vater, nacht too hot

Y: How much water?

Gma: ah leetle.

Gma: now add more vater.

Y: How much?

Gma: [same shrug, then grabs a tupperware container and fills it up half way with the perfect temperature water] Deese much Vater.

Y: HOW THE HECK CAN I MAKE THIS AGAIN? DON'T YOU KNOW I CAN'T SHARE QUANTITIES SUCH AS 'deese much vater' ON MY BLOG??

Gma: now you Meexe it. Slooowly, slooowly, Geeentle. Then you take-it out and Kneeeeed. One hundred times.

[as I mentioned before I didn't knead it right, she intervened, and then I got it. Or at least she pretended I did.

Gma: then, you let him rize.

Gma: then, you bacon him.

Gma: then, you let him rest.

Gma: then, you eeeat him!

Ladies and gentlemen, I let him rize, bacon, rest and then I ate him. The most beautiful bread-man I ever made. And most likely never to be repeated again.

T-day

T-Day.

Turkey day.

Thanksgiving.

Whatever your preference....

we all can agree it's a happy day of [over] feasting with family!

I love Thanksgiving.

But; I have a confession.

Two actually.

1. Almost always, I think turkey is boring and horribly dry.

2. I don't REALLLLLLY love pumpkin as much as one is supposed to. I do, LOVE the flavor.

But there is a weird texture thing. And something is just, MISSING?

Thankfully, I found a kindred spirit who feels the same way. The Pioneer Woman. I just stumbled upon her blog, and oh mah word, ya'll. All her food looks killer! She is sarcastic. [Food and Sarcasm = the girl is speaking my language!] And to make her an even more credible food blogger I will name drop and say she was recently featured on Bobby Flay's Thanksgiving Throw Down. So I don't know about you, but I think tis' wise to make the food of a woman that held her ground next to Bobby.

She shares my pumpkin pie sentiment. So I was excited to see she created a pumpkin creme pie that looks ahhh-mazing. Lets just hope I can convince my strict punkin' lovin' family to indulge in this little beauty! I told my skeptical husband about it, and he insisted that I try it out first, so it can be 'perfect' for Christmas. See? I told you. Strict Punkin' Lover!

Isn't that pie just beautiful!?

I can't wait to try it.

Recipe found here on Pioneer Woman.

Bon appétit!

i heart recipes

Most lovely days as I make dinner at 5:00 pm, I watch Ina Garten on the Barefoot Contessa. I love to write down her recipes in a little note book I keep in the kitchen. I'm always on the hunt for new recipes. I LOVE FOOD, I just can't help it!

So, I was glad to stumble on this little gem Honest Fare by Gabi [who I gather is Cole's sister from Pacing the Panic Room] I have not made any of her recipes yet, but the pictures alone get my mouth watering!

She has some great baby food recipes that I am eager to try...guess I have to have a baby first? I'm working on that.

Buon Appetite!

Barefoot Contessa

my favorite tv chef, Ina Garten has impressed me once again! I made her Company Pot Roast this weekend, and OH MY HOLY STARS it was to die for.

It was my first attempt at making pot roast and if I do say so myself, it was impressive with a capital I.

I highly recommend it. For the record, I omitted the cognac and added potatoes. Delish!

black bean salad deliciousness

mmmmm.

I've eaten one of these puppies nearly every day since I saw Casablanca's post about her black bean salad with veggies fresh from her garden. While I don't have my own garden, and am rather bummed about it, I still was inspired to eat. Hah, I don't seem to have a problem eating anything now-a-days. Just offer!

Ok, so here's my little recipe for an uber delicious BB salad...with ingredients from my local amish farmers. Yay for farmers.

Black beans (if you are really good, you will soak and cook them yourself. I opt for organic cans)

Tomato

Cucumber

Red Bell Pepper

White Cabbage (thin shreds, and they key is to squeeze them after chopping. Help to break them down and the dressing really soaks in!)

Avocado

Fresh Cilantro (a lot)

Fresh Mint and Basil are also SO good

Top it off with some salt and pepper, generous lemon juice and olive oil....and voila!

If you want to kick it up a notch (Emeril.) add some diced jalepeno and fresh garlic. yum!

Thanks Casablanca for the inspiration!

:) haappy eeaating!