Black Bean Salad

I made the black bean salad and actually used it for filling in burritos.  The beans turned out soft, but I did cook them for about 3 1/2 hours in addition to the first 30 minutes.  They were very easy to make just took cooking time, but a couple of the ingredients were difficult to find.  For some reason I could not find the butcher's twine, and I kept having flash backs to the movie "Bridget Jone's Diary" when Bridget made the blue soup so I figured I better get the right item.  I eventually found it in the fresh meat area of the grocery store.  Also, I could not find a dried arbol chile so I settled for dried anaheim chiles.  After some research I realized that an arbol chile is really hot it is used in cayenne pepper, and the anaheim chile is mild so I used 3 when I made the beans.  I like a little kick, and these did not have  any so in the future I will add extra chiles or cayenne pepper. 

Overall, the beans were good, but I think I would like a little more flavor like I said more spice and maybe a little garlic.  I do not normally have these ingredients on hand, and I have a black bean recipe that I like so I will probably use that one more often. Also, I think adding flavor to canned beans is a bit easier than the dry beans.

Also, I will not be making the hummus recipe on the website because it calls for peanut butter, and I have made hummus with peanut butter before and it is not good. Stick to recipes that call for tahini.

Chipotle Cheddar Biscuits

I know an awesome picture on an awesome paper plate.

I decided on this recipe because I am a sucker for anything with chipotle and cheese. Since the first time I looked through this book it stuck out to me. Well, since I am pretty spacey I thought last week was my turn so I made them last week and they turned out horrible. They were flat like a cookie. When I went back through the recipe I don't think my error was in the amount of the ingredients. The two things I ignored was to use "tightly packed" cheese and I didn't notice the part where it said not to over mix the dough with the buttermilk. I am not a very experienced cook so I have no idea if this is what caused it, but maybe it did so the moral of the story is read the recipe.

Anywho, once I realized I had another week I decided I would try again. It went better this time, but I am not as big a fan as I thought I would be. I love spicy so I didn't mind how hot these are, but if you don't like spice I would recommend use less chipotle. Also I don't think these are really a breakfast food it would accompany a soup or salad better. I think these would be great with a chili, so probably more of a winter, fall food. Although I did not like them my 2 year old son, Lucas, ate two biscuits, my husband ate a few, and my house guest, LuAnn's husband, ate few. So I guess my expectations were too high. Bottom line I am 50/50 on whether I will make them again.

These are my first try, Chipotle Cheddar Cookies

Now for the questions:

Do you have any pet peeves? I have a ton and can't think right now, but the one I can think of is poor customer service.

Any other hobbies besides being an amazing cook? This is sad, but I love to watch tv, read, sewing, knitting (because I can watch tv while I do it)

What is your favorite summer activity? Going to the beach or swimming

Are you a morning or a night person? Neither, I am a middle of the day person.

Are you a go-go-go sight-seeing kind of vacationer or lie-on-the-beach-all-day kind of vacationer? A little of both. If there is a beach there I want to lie on the beach for at least one day.

What is your favorite store? Gap, Banana Republic... I have worked there for 12 years so it is easy to shop. Plus I get 50% off. If I didn't have the discount I would say Nordstrom for shoes and Anthropologie for clothes and Target for everything else.

What is your favorite beverage? Lately I have been loving Brazilian Lemonade, but the old favorite is Dr. Pepper

If you had to go back to school, what would your major be? I couldn't decide while I was in school so I am not sure now. Maybe one of the hundreds I considered while I was in college: Chemistry, Business, Economics, History , Sociology, Fashion Merchandising, Engineering, Dietetics... I have lots of interests I better just get a library card.

Melissa's banana muffins and pasta

I loved these muffins and so did the family. I just used Cocoa powder instead of espresso powder and it tasted good although I do think the others spices would have complimented them well. Maybe next time I will try a different spice. My only complaint is that they were not very pretty. I guess I should have taken a picture, but I had company and made it for breakfast so they were all eaten up before I had a chance. Anyway I just thought they were flat and not a great color. I would recommend a loaf like Cami especially since there are only 3 in my family I like to give away some of my baking so we don't turn into chunks.

I also made the cheesy squash pasta and loved it. My husband loved it which made me happy because I love creamy sauces on pasta and he likes red so I usually have to make two options. Not this time I just made the one and he even ate the left overs. I used two red peppers instead of one because one did not seem like enough and I had company and wanted to make sure there would be plenty of food. Two was a little too much I would probably say 1 1/2 peppers or maybe another vegetable. I have never used butternut squash before because I didn't really know what to do with it so I was happy to learn. I really loved the flavor it added to the dish, and I had a little bite of just the squash and it was delish. So I now have a new vegetable to make for the family. Thanks for a new recipe to add to the meal rotation.

S'more Nut Bars

I decided on the recipe because for as long as I can remember I have loved S'mores. I just love the gooey marshmallows paired with the melting chocolate it is to die for. So, when I saw this recipe I knew I had to do it. I made this yesterday and I liked it, but it was not exactly what I imagined. It did not have the gooey marshmallow with the melting chocolate so right there I was a little disappointed. I think a more accurate name would be "Rocky Road Bars".

I have a few comments. Since I don't really like peanuts I changed it to walnuts and it was great you could probably do any nut of choice. I actually added a little salt to the recipe since my nuts were not lightly salted, but I think I could have done without. Also, I thought the dark chocolate was a little over powering and I love milk chocolate so in the future I would make it with just milk chocolate. Finally, I think in the future I would have either cut up more marshmallows or cut them smaller, because there were times when I had a few bites of just chocolate and I think it needs the marshmallow to cut the intensity of the chocolate. Overall I would make it again with a few modifications.

*I am having some camera problems so I will add pictures soon


And now for Cami's questionnaire:

Q: When did you start baking / cooking?
A: I have always baked I can remember pretty much every Sunday as a child baking something new. When I moved away from home and lived with roommates I stopped baking and thanks to this group I am back baking again. I forgot how much I enjoyed it. I started cooking once I had Lucas because I was at home and I had extra time. I could use a lot of help in the cooking area, but I have been enjoying it the more I try.

Q: What is your favorite kitchen tool?
A: I really love these measuring cups that are made for liquids I have four in total and the smallest measurement is 1 tbls up to 4 cups. I use them everyday.

Q: Do you have a favorite spice? If so, what is it?
A: Probably salt, it is hard to decide.

Q: What is your favorite book?
A: My favorite book for years has been Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

Q: If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
A: My sister lives in Qatar so it would probably be there.

Q: If you had to change your first name right now, what would you change it to?
A: I always wanted my middle name so I guess Lynne.

Q: Where do you currently live?
A: Chicago

Q: Where are you from?
A: Mobile, AL

Q: If you could eat one thing for every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A: Cheeseburger and french fries with a Dr. pepper