So as some of you may have been wondering.. (or perhaps not) where has Laurel been?
Well I have been enjoying married life, working my tush off, school, and lastly.. really focusing on my photography.. I have been posting but under my photography blog.. if you get a chance... feel free to check it out!
www.photographybylaurel.blogspot.com
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
German Menu Night!!
So I felt inspired tonight and decided to do some more cooking.. I also tried out 3 new recipes for this!! So I will show them allll here! Its a doozy this one..
Brats and Onion, Home mady Gravy, Spaetzle, Red Cabbage, and I made a Pineapple Marzipan cake (minus the marzipan!)
Bratwurst and Onions
Ingredients
1 lb bratwurst
1 large onion, sliced thick
1 tablespoon minced garlic clove
1 tablespoon butter
20 ounces beer (we prefer Budlight)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Directions
1 In a skillet over medium heat Saute the garlic and butter for approx one minute.
2 Add in the onions, salt, pepper, and enough beer to cover the bottom of the pan.
3 Cook the onions over medium heat until tender and caremelized.
4 Remove the onions from the pan and place the bratwurst in the pan. Brown the bratwurst and cook.
5 Once the bratwurst are cooked add the onions and remaining beer to the pan. Cook over medium heat until the beer has reduced to a thicker sauce with the onions.
Homemade Gravy
Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 tablespoon onion, finely minced
1/2 cup beer
2 tablespoons beef bouillon
3 cups water
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Directions
1 Saute the onions, Garlic, and beer in a pan over medium heat. Cook until the onions are tender, and the beer has reduced.
2 Add the watger, boullion, flour, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
3 Whisk until the gravy has reached the consistency of your liking.
Spaetzle
Ingredients
13 1/4 ounces flour
2 eggs
salt
1 1/16 cups water
1 tablespoons oil
Directions
1 Mix the flour eggs & salt together (use your blender).
2 Slowly add the water until the dough is smooth, but not stiff.
3(If large eggs are used then use a little less water).
4 Continue to blend the dough until it has enlarged in size.
5 Heat a pot of salted water to boiling add a tbsp oil.
6 Put batches of your dough in the hopper of the spaetzle grater and grate the noodles into the boiling water.
7 Do the recipe bit by bit lifting the noodles out of the water when they float Keep warm while you cook the rest.
8 If you do not have a spaetzle grater roll out the dough to about 1/4" thickness and slice across then slice the other way to have them the size you want them.
9 Boil the same as with the spaetzle grater.
Braised Red Cabbage with Red Onions and Apples
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups chopped red onions
8 cups thinly sliced red cabbage
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 apples, peeled & cored & chopped
1 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper
Directions
1 In a large heavy saucepan, over medium heat, heat the oil then add onion and cook for 5 minutes or until softened.
2 Stir in cabbage, garlic and apples.
3 Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until cabbage begins to wilt.
4 Stir in stock, vinegar, sugar and bay leaf.
5 Reduce heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes or until cabbage is soft and liquid has evaporated.
6 Remove bay leaf and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Pineapple and Marzipan Cake
Ingredients
7 1/16 ounces marzipan, cut into smallish cubes
6 1/4 ounces butter, softened
6 1/4 ounces sugar
1 tablespoons vanilla sugar
3 eggs
10 5/8 ounces plain flour, sieved
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 (15 ounce) can pineapple chunks, drained
Directions
1 Preheat oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5.
2 Mix butter, eggs, vanilla sugar and sugar in a mixing bowl until well combined.
3 Add the marzipan and continue to stir until smooth.
4 Sieve together the flour and baking powder and slowly add little by little, stirring until you have a smooth dough.
5 Add the pineapple chunks and stir into the dough.
6 Pour into a greased loaf pan that has been lined with baking paper.
7 Bake for 50-65 minutes, if you feel it is getting too dark, cover with foil.
8 Depending on your oven and the size of your loaf pan it may take longer than 65 minutes, but not to worry.
9 Check for doneness by inserting a wooden skewer, if it comes out clean the cake is ready.
10 Allow to cool before removing from tin.
11 If you want you can cover with ganache, but it's great without.
Brats and Onion, Home mady Gravy, Spaetzle, Red Cabbage, and I made a Pineapple Marzipan cake (minus the marzipan!)
Bratwurst and Onions
Ingredients
1 lb bratwurst
1 large onion, sliced thick
1 tablespoon minced garlic clove
1 tablespoon butter
20 ounces beer (we prefer Budlight)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Directions
1 In a skillet over medium heat Saute the garlic and butter for approx one minute.
2 Add in the onions, salt, pepper, and enough beer to cover the bottom of the pan.
3 Cook the onions over medium heat until tender and caremelized.
4 Remove the onions from the pan and place the bratwurst in the pan. Brown the bratwurst and cook.
5 Once the bratwurst are cooked add the onions and remaining beer to the pan. Cook over medium heat until the beer has reduced to a thicker sauce with the onions.
Homemade Gravy
Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 tablespoon onion, finely minced
1/2 cup beer
2 tablespoons beef bouillon
3 cups water
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Directions
1 Saute the onions, Garlic, and beer in a pan over medium heat. Cook until the onions are tender, and the beer has reduced.
2 Add the watger, boullion, flour, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
3 Whisk until the gravy has reached the consistency of your liking.
Spaetzle
Ingredients
13 1/4 ounces flour
2 eggs
salt
1 1/16 cups water
1 tablespoons oil
Directions
1 Mix the flour eggs & salt together (use your blender).
2 Slowly add the water until the dough is smooth, but not stiff.
3(If large eggs are used then use a little less water).
4 Continue to blend the dough until it has enlarged in size.
5 Heat a pot of salted water to boiling add a tbsp oil.
6 Put batches of your dough in the hopper of the spaetzle grater and grate the noodles into the boiling water.
7 Do the recipe bit by bit lifting the noodles out of the water when they float Keep warm while you cook the rest.
8 If you do not have a spaetzle grater roll out the dough to about 1/4" thickness and slice across then slice the other way to have them the size you want them.
9 Boil the same as with the spaetzle grater.
Braised Red Cabbage with Red Onions and Apples
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups chopped red onions
8 cups thinly sliced red cabbage
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 apples, peeled & cored & chopped
1 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper
Directions
1 In a large heavy saucepan, over medium heat, heat the oil then add onion and cook for 5 minutes or until softened.
2 Stir in cabbage, garlic and apples.
3 Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until cabbage begins to wilt.
4 Stir in stock, vinegar, sugar and bay leaf.
5 Reduce heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes or until cabbage is soft and liquid has evaporated.
6 Remove bay leaf and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Pineapple and Marzipan Cake
Ingredients
7 1/16 ounces marzipan, cut into smallish cubes
6 1/4 ounces butter, softened
6 1/4 ounces sugar
1 tablespoons vanilla sugar
3 eggs
10 5/8 ounces plain flour, sieved
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 (15 ounce) can pineapple chunks, drained
Directions
1 Preheat oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5.
2 Mix butter, eggs, vanilla sugar and sugar in a mixing bowl until well combined.
3 Add the marzipan and continue to stir until smooth.
4 Sieve together the flour and baking powder and slowly add little by little, stirring until you have a smooth dough.
5 Add the pineapple chunks and stir into the dough.
6 Pour into a greased loaf pan that has been lined with baking paper.
7 Bake for 50-65 minutes, if you feel it is getting too dark, cover with foil.
8 Depending on your oven and the size of your loaf pan it may take longer than 65 minutes, but not to worry.
9 Check for doneness by inserting a wooden skewer, if it comes out clean the cake is ready.
10 Allow to cool before removing from tin.
11 If you want you can cover with ganache, but it's great without.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Easy French Onion Soup
OK, So as promised.. today I made.. Easy French Onion Soup And it turned out fantastic. Nick said he liked it a lot and usually he will tell me if he doesnt like something... Here is the recipe and step by step directions!
Ingredients
2 (14 ounce) cans beef broth
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can beef consomme
2 large onions
2 tablespoons butter
2 pressed garlic cloves
1 dash worcestershire sauce
1 cup shredded swiss cheese
4 slices toasted French bread
Slice the onions approx. a 1/4 inch thick
Saute the Onions, garlic, and butter over medium heat.
Caramelize the onions until they are a nice golden brown.
Add in the Worchsteschire Sauce, Beef Broth, and Consomme and bring to a boil.
I allowed my soup to simmer for approx. 15-20 minutes.
In the meantime heat your over for broiling.
Layer a bit of Swiss Cheese in the bottom of the boil
Spoon soup over the cheese and leve room for the bread and additional cheese.
Cover the soup with your toasted French Bread and more swiss cheese.
Bake in the oven until the cheese is bubble and enjoy!
Ingredients
2 (14 ounce) cans beef broth
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can beef consomme
2 large onions
2 tablespoons butter
2 pressed garlic cloves
1 dash worcestershire sauce
1 cup shredded swiss cheese
4 slices toasted French bread
Slice the onions approx. a 1/4 inch thick
Saute the Onions, garlic, and butter over medium heat.
Caramelize the onions until they are a nice golden brown.
Add in the Worchsteschire Sauce, Beef Broth, and Consomme and bring to a boil.
I allowed my soup to simmer for approx. 15-20 minutes.
In the meantime heat your over for broiling.
Layer a bit of Swiss Cheese in the bottom of the boil
Spoon soup over the cheese and leve room for the bread and additional cheese.
Cover the soup with your toasted French Bread and more swiss cheese.
Bake in the oven until the cheese is bubble and enjoy!
Wow
I obviously an't say this enough.. Im a slacker lol... So I am committing myself to one blog a week! I SWEAR! I have even put a reminder in my blackberry lol. So I will be posting back later tonight after I make some home made French Onion Soup... I want to give some photos and my review...
As for other things I thought I would share withh you guys a few photos from the wedding..
you can check them out at www.dbimages.instaproofs.com and then click on Laurel & Nick.. .So please, enjoy!
As for other news... we are obviously back from our honeymoon. It was amazing! Hawaii was fantastic.. climbing the volcano, the craters, the waterfalls, all of the snorkelling, and the fine Hawaiian cuisine was FABULOUS!! I have a newfound appreciation for Spam! yes, I know Spam! But prior to that, I have never had Spam before... it wasn't all that bad! And I think perhaps it has some great potential.. we shall see.. I have picked up a can and a few recipes, so we shall see...
As for other things I thought I would share withh you guys a few photos from the wedding..
you can check them out at www.dbimages.instaproofs.com and then click on Laurel & Nick.. .So please, enjoy!
As for other news... we are obviously back from our honeymoon. It was amazing! Hawaii was fantastic.. climbing the volcano, the craters, the waterfalls, all of the snorkelling, and the fine Hawaiian cuisine was FABULOUS!! I have a newfound appreciation for Spam! yes, I know Spam! But prior to that, I have never had Spam before... it wasn't all that bad! And I think perhaps it has some great potential.. we shall see.. I have picked up a can and a few recipes, so we shall see...
Monday, January 19, 2009
Easy going weekend
So I was thinking this morning, this weekend was pretty easy going, but actually I did do a bunch of stuff. Friday night was opening weekend of the state fair so I pretty much stuffed my face which was fun. Then saturday morning dh and I watched movies until I have to leave for a birthday party which ended up being a job. Luckily I brought my cameras with me... I ended up taking over 400 picsb it was a place called My Gym which is similar to gymboree...the kids had an amazing time. And who wouldn't... Had they had an adult sized playground, I would of been having fun too!
the weekend ended nicely with breakfast in the morning, then I shot a baptism, and ended at my sisters house eating home made split pea soup and watching pineapple express...
This weeks agenda, packing!!!!
the weekend ended nicely with breakfast in the morning, then I shot a baptism, and ended at my sisters house eating home made split pea soup and watching pineapple express...
This weeks agenda, packing!!!!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Where am I???
I know I know! I have been severely MIA for a while... But I am officially back, and I'm a Mrs! That's right! We tied the knot aside the crashing waves two weeks ago and it was absolutely wonderful. The day turned out to be a perfect one that I will never forget. I was really calm the entire day aside from one hiccup with my flowers. I remember walking down the aisle and all I could do was stare at Nick.he was so handsome!
When he took my hands in his.. He just kept squeezing them and running his thumbs in circles over them. It was so sweet and personal, I don't think anybody else realized. His "I do" was so firm and determined it made my heart melt. And when I could hear the emotion as he said his vows, I knew I would love this man forever and through anything.
We followed the ceremony with a helluva a party that included my mother in law catching the bouquet, the best man catching the garter, and him "booty-dancing" all the way up to her.
It was definitely a great moment and everyone had an amazing time! You can see some professional pics on Devynn's blog www.dbimages.ca and then press view blog at the bottom.
As for what to do now... We are a week away from our honeymoon, and I have started the spring semester. I am takinbg a black and white film phoography class and I am Very excited about it.
I am determined to be abetter blogger. And I am going to continue to offer wedding ideas as well... I have to maintain my DIY queeen status.... But for now, I am off to the state fair. Have fun ladies!
When he took my hands in his.. He just kept squeezing them and running his thumbs in circles over them. It was so sweet and personal, I don't think anybody else realized. His "I do" was so firm and determined it made my heart melt. And when I could hear the emotion as he said his vows, I knew I would love this man forever and through anything.
We followed the ceremony with a helluva a party that included my mother in law catching the bouquet, the best man catching the garter, and him "booty-dancing" all the way up to her.
It was definitely a great moment and everyone had an amazing time! You can see some professional pics on Devynn's blog www.dbimages.ca and then press view blog at the bottom.
As for what to do now... We are a week away from our honeymoon, and I have started the spring semester. I am takinbg a black and white film phoography class and I am Very excited about it.
I am determined to be abetter blogger. And I am going to continue to offer wedding ideas as well... I have to maintain my DIY queeen status.... But for now, I am off to the state fair. Have fun ladies!
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