Recipe and random stuff

I thought I would share the Rigatoni and Brussels Sprouts recipe with all  of you.  It's easy and you can change it up all you want.  We have had pretty simple dishes lately, salmon and a crockpot dish, nothing awesome but still good.  Tomorrow promises to be fabulous!  Here is the recipe.....enjoy...K

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=baked+rigatoni+with+brussels+sprouts+and+blue+cheese&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Dancing in the kitchen and comfort food

Today wasn't a good day. Between Cj severely bruising her tail bone, a major lack of sleep and a few of my own issues comfort food was needed. It's not healthy, it's not fancy but it's like your favorite sweatshirt, comfy. It was tatertot casserole night :)
I have also attached a photo of Zak and I and our new headphones. He was listening to music and writing a paper and I was listening to music, writing and making dinner. Dancing was happening however the pictures are too blurry to share.  K

Shrimp Risotto

This dinner got me such rave revues that I blushed! I made a simple risotto recipe but added shrimp and just a touch of brie. It truly was spectacular.

Baked Rigatoni with Brussels Sprouts, Figs and Blue Cheese

This might be the best dish I've made in a very long time. It was simple, light and had incredible flavors.  From the "Food Matters" cookbook, you honestly can't go wrong with this dish. Don't like figs, try pears or apples or cranberries. Don't like blue cheese (you know who you are) try fontina or gruyere. This dish was gone, we talked about it the whole time and it's already on for next week. I'll post the recipe later tonight.......K Matters

Fun meals for the week!

Just thought I would share the kids and my meal plan for the next few days......we are kinda stoked about it!

• Coconut curry w/tofu
• Risotto w/shrimp
• Baked rigatoni w/brussels sprouts, figs and blue cheese
• veggie wontons and birds nests
• Loaded baked potato soup (perfect for after sledding today!!)

Pictures and recipes will be posted later on.  I'm hoping the photographer's tips on taking pics with my phone work!

K

Lunch with the photographer

The title of this post would have been something different however the photographer is the one that was able to make it so.....title stays like this.

I have had a few appetizer recipes I've wanted to try and my photographer friend was nice enough to say she would come over and try my cooking (the kids and Dave have been my only true samplers, starting to question some of their judgement) and bonus, take pics.  How awesome, an actual professional photographer taking pics of my cooking, totally not daunting at all.  Below are pictures the photographer took, I really think they speak for themselves, and our menu. I did have other tasters, the usual suspects (D,Z and Cj) along with foodie Emily Moo Moo and Billy.  Enjoy the pictures and thanks Jen for being really good at your work! Oh, the picture of the killer cake was taken by myself with my phone and yes, I realize her pictures are WAY better!  K

Roasted grapes, goat cheese and honey crostini

Caramelized onion tart with brie and blue cheese

Brussel sprouts wrapped in bacon

Dessert: Chocolate Guinness Cake

Cj-ism

This is not food related but made me laugh so hard I cried.

"Cj, why is Bennett cuddling one of your jog bras?"

"He's a boy mom!"

Mashed Canellinnies and Potatoes redone.

I decided to try a different approach with these. Dave and I loved them but the kids were iffy. I also wanted to share the recipe with blue cheese haters. So, this being said, I stuck with the original recipe but instead used french thyme instead of rosemary and a good quality parmesan instead of blue. I am happy to say that these were a HUGE hit! The flavors were spectacular and went very well with our grilled salmon.

Roasted red pepper, sun dried tomato and garlic sauce

Happy Wednesday!

Made an absolutely amazing sauce tonight! I took roasted red peppers, sun dried tomatoes, 4 gloves of garlic and a touch of feta, ran in all through the food processor until I reached a consistency of pesto. I then tossed it with a whole wheat spaghetti and finished it with a touch of feta and dry hard salami.

I have never made a sauce that wasn't from a cookbook. For some reason I was feeling crazy creative tonight and just nailed it.

Music while cooking: Best of Ella Fitzgerald

Random thoughts this a.m.

I'm 30 day challenging myself to be vegetarian. Not going to lie, it's kinda kicking my ass! I've had to tweak the plan a bit and am hoping that does it.

One of our things is to try and snack on things with only 4 ingredients,  stupid hard! You think it's going to be easy, it's not.

Okay, I am attaching two photos this morning. One is my wonder dog Cooper helping pre-wash the dishes. No, he isn't suppose to but he got caught. The other truly shows that I am either totally in love with my daughter or just a big old sucker!  Yes, I peeled her apple!!!!

K

Fish Tacos!!!!!

I love my fish tacos! I finally have the right marinade for the ahi tuna and have the time it needs to marinade dialed in. I love how versatile they are, I love that they are great for leftovers. All good!

I like mine with brown rice, black beans, avocado, bit of cheese and salsa......yummy!!!!

I also adore that my children think they rock too!

Simple dinner; garlic and brie pasta

Go to staple in this house, pasta. I can dress it up or down and it's a hit. This is easy and we love our garlic!

Songs of the night: Ben Howard "the wolves" and Panic at the disco "Ready to Go."

Coffee Porn

Good morning! Yes, this mornings entry does say "coffee porn," when you see the picture you will understand why! I have a crazy obsession with our coffee maker!

I was asked what this blog was going to be about, yes, Dave asked. It is simply a blog to show food pictures and talk about recipes, that's it. I might give you a recipe if it's super easy and crazy good or I might just tell you where I found it.

I'm a huge fan of Mark Bittman's Food Matters so there will be quite a few from there.

I will be 100% honest and say that I have stolen the "porn" name from my cousin Karen. She started using it when my niece would post pictures from South Florida of oysters on the half shell and other amazing things that we in Eastern Washington don't get the chance to enjoy. Those pictures became "food porn" and we have been using that term ever since.

Oh, if you have a recipe you want to share, post it! I love new stuff!

I hope you enjoy my little adventure.....K

Brunch!

Zak and I decided that brunch was in order today. That being said, omelets were on the menu. Each one was made to order, mine was bacon, avocado and tomato.

Mashed Cannellinis and Potatoes w/Blue cheese

Totally awesome recipe from Mark Bittman's "Food Matters" cookbook. The bacon, blue cheese burgers were pretty amazing as well.

Basic......it's about food!

The Dancing Kitchen is simply a blog about food.  You'll see tons of pictures and get a recipe or two, nothing I created but recipes that I have tried and loved.   Enjoy, K