Dirty Martini...My favorite cocktail! :)

OK...So I LOVE olives, LOVE LOVE LOVE them! I found a great recipe for my favorite cocktail on my new Android (this phone could be true love for me)

I got a fancy foo foo shaker that I use to make these, once I have it on my mind that I want one of these yummy drinks I think about it all day. Did I mention I LOVE olives?

OK so enough of my ramblings on my love for olives and my new true love Android.

3 oz. Vodka (Grey Goose Please)
1 oz. Dry Vermouth
1/2 oz. Olive Brine (ummm I use 2 oz. brine, I LOVE OLIVES)

Put all ingredients in your shaker filled half way up with ice...shake shake shake, strain over your best martini glass and garnish with OLIVES..:)

Great...guess what I want to make tonight now??

Old Fashioned Coconut Macaroons

OK These are perhaps the most delicious and EASY cookies I have ever made. Ken and Emily LOVE Coconut Macaroons, I usually get them from Sprouts as a special treat, NOT ANY MORE!

Surprisingly these cookies are pretty healthy, other than the buttered baking sheet they are pretty low in fat...My next try will be dipping them in chocolate, you know where I am going with this I am sure...Mounds candy, can you say YUMMMMM

SO are you ready for this?

1 1/3 Cups Flaked Coconut
1/3 C. Sugar
2 T. Flour
2 Egg Whites
1/2-1 Tsp. Vanilla

Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Mix together, coconut, sugar, flour, vanilla and egg whites (in that order)

Drop by spoonfuls onto well greased baking sheet, they will look messy but, believe me they come out great.

Bake at 325 for 15-20 minutes

Let cool and enjoy!! :)

THE BEST Cut Out Sugar Cookies EVER

I love Bakers Sugar, if you have not used this before in your baking projects give it a try, its worth the extra $$

I made two batches of these sugar cookies this year, they were a huge it! I have an OLD recipe of my grammies I used for years but have been looking for a more "fluffy" cookie, this is it!!

I have made cut-out sugar cookies every year since I was old enough to remember, either with my mom, sister or grammie, it is one of the only real traditions I remember as a child. I am happy to say my kids now have that tradition as well, even though two of them are teens they still LOVE to frost and decorate. I have a bit of a cookie sprinkle and food coloring obsession..LOL

This Recipe is from Allrecipes.com

1 1/2 C. Butter (softened)
2 C. Sugar
4 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
5 C. Flour
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees
Cream Sugar and Butter together until fluffy, add Eggs and Vanilla
Stir in Flour, Baking Powder and Salt
Cover and place in refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour
Take out 1/4 of the dough out of fridge at a time, lightly flour surface and roll out with rolling pin.

Place cookies on baking sheet 1 inch apart, bake for 6-8 minutes, watch closely so they dont burn.

I found this dough to be pretty easy to work with, it can be a little sticky, but if you lightly flour in between rolling you will be fine.

I use a simply frosting of powdered sugar and water..I don't have exact measurements, just make sure its not too thick or runny.

Woohoo now I can blog from my Droid

What will I make in 2010? Below is my list and I promise to do a better job of posting..:)

1. Tamales
2. Beef Wellington (have made it before but, time for a re-d0)
3. Tiramisu
4. Perfect pie crust
5. Korean Short Ribs
6. Marshmallows
7. Homemade Pasta
   
8. Meringues
9. Grandmothers recipe for brown bread
10. Doughnuts
    

Menu Week 1 Oct. 5- 11

Monday: Linguine with Fresh Tomato Sauce, Cheese Straws
Tuesday: Pita with ground Lamb and Zucchini, Tabbouleh Salad
Wednesday: Sauteed' Flatfish, Slow Cooked Greens, Brown Rice with Cashews and Herbs
Thursday: Short Ribs Simmered with Potatoes and Mustard, Cress and Barley Salad with Dill Vinaigrette Dressing.
Friday: Shrimp My Way, Basic Polenta Version 1, Simmered Chard
Saturday: Pan Seared Steak in Red Wine, Popovers, Boiled New Potatoes
Sunday: Curried Rice Noodles with Vegetables

Inspiring NEW project!

An epicurean adventure awaits my family!
I know you are dying to know what in the world I am talking about so, here goes. I just finished reading the book Julie and Julia and LOVED it, I was amazed by Julie's dedication to such a difficult project. 1 year to cook ALL the recipes in Julia Child's book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking", SO, I have decided to take on a similar adventure (not nearly as daring though) I am going to cook almost all (I WILL not cook rabbit) the recipes in Mark Bittman's book "How to Cook Everything" Buy the book and follow along, its going to be a blast!