Plum Muffins

Today I made plum bran muffins! They're absolutely delicious, and oh so easy. I even used a mini muffin tray so they fit into a tiny toaster oven, saving energy and keeping the house a bit cooler, too!

I used this Allrecipes.com recipe as a base (really great, thank you!)
Here is my recipe.

• 1 1/2 cups wheat bran
• 1 cup soy milk
  
• 1/2 cup cooked plum purée
  
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup Splenda
  
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup diced plums

Basically, just reduced the sweetness (plums are tart when cooked but it's a great taste sensation! So much more exciting!), made the flour 100% whole wheat, and added a tad of almond extract for extra oomph.





The bottoms were pure mushy plum heaven!

Kombucha Successes

Staying at a friend's house in Portland widened my culinary horizons when I tasted kombucha for the first time.

kombucha cultures drying outside

This strange, vinegar-y drink is actually fermented using a "mother" kombucha culture--a conglomerate mass of live little beings--and sweetened tea. I couldn't wait to start my own! Even if all those health claims are bollocks, this drink is super satisfying to make. And it tastes healthy, at least, if that makes any sense at all!

I purchased a bottle of the drink at my local co-op for a few dollars, and added it to some sweetened tea in a large jar. In about a week, a culture was already growing at the top of the liquid! Soon enough I had my very own "mushroom".


Ready to make your own? This website has a great introduction to the drink, and Food Renegade has a great post on growing your own culture from a store-bought drink. There is also a lovely website where you can post or contact people who have extra kombuchas to share!

Reppin' for the Sauciest Sriracha Around

Thanks NYT

Blue (da ba dee) - [ Homemade Ice Cream ]

oh geez. gotta have it:

for the discerning Street style houndz


this guy sure gets around

I think the Cookie Monster may have subliminally influenced my latest ice cream recipe.
Today, I whipped up a normal ol' batch of vanilla ice cream...half n half, sugar, vanilla...

=


wtf?

Secret ingredient, yes yes! I just so happen to be slightly obsessed by all brands of "Birthday Cake" ice cream...


nom...

so of course, I threw in a few slices of cake I took home with me after piano auditions in the music building today.

Ya!!!


The only problems I have been having with my ice cream is that they turn super-hard in the freezer. I am currently researching ways to make the ice cream have a higher freezing point, I guess, including guar gum and eggs, but this one is just good ol' fat and sugar.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I want to be able to make actual healthy ice cream someday, without it turning into a sweet but utterly inedible ice block in my freezer. Halp!

Also, here is a kittie:

I think I am going to do a feature about Maru, he might be the coolest cat on the web.

Dal, Spiced Chickpeas, and Curried Veggies = Indian Vegetarian Feast

Thanks Monisha Bharadwaj, your cookbook rocks.


the face of a true gourmand

Cuisine Marocaine, Cuisine Algerienne

Ooh la la! For our final project in Francophone Culture and Contemporary France, a segment involves proving ourselves--in the kichen!

Tonight, however, we are cookin' up Yellow Lentils in a chili-garlic paste with Stir-fried Garbanzoes, from this lovely cookbook.

Pictures to follow.


Here are my hopeful recipes for tomorrow's French cookoff:

Date Tart
Couscous de Tolga (Algerian region)
Moroccan Date Cake, another version
Baghrir (which are like Moroccan pancakes, or so I read...)

Wish me luck!

Proof that Karin Dreijer Andersson is Probably a Witch

(the very good kind)

Vanilla Almond Black Tea Pancakes with Apple and Bran

Long title, easy Sunday breakfast!


Note: during the course of writing this entry, these disappeared..."magically"...

Recently my boyfriend and I have both been experimenting with the limitations and possibilities of pancake mixes.
This morning, I grabbed my box of Fiber One pancake mix (one of the healthier varieties) and in my caffeine-less state, reverted back to my childhood cooking memories, ones which included adding grated apple to pancakes (those, however, were made from scratch. Today sees me a lazy college student!) for an instant taste explosion!

So, I definitely needed some caffeine. I brewed up a double (triple?) bag pot of Bigelow Vanilla Almond black tea. It smelled so very delicious that I had to experiment some!

Recipe:
3/4 cup pancake mix
1/4 cup wheat bran (this is of course optional, but is supa wholesome)
1/2 apple, grated
1/2 cup *cold* Vanilla Almond black tea
vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, whatever else is yums.

=combine in a bowl. Add more liquid if necessary.
then cook your pancakes for ultimate breakfast goodness!


Imagine this plate is empty. My taste buds realize the horrible truth that PANCAKES ARE NO MORE

Super secret tip!: I added a little slice of Monterey Jack cheese in between the layers of my pancakes. OMG they were good! Try it, I dare you.