Cooking with Jeff: Tacos!

Like I mentioned before, Jeff and I decided that homemade tortillas should be next on our list of foods to make. We decided to make tacos with our homemade tortillas and I think overall they were a success.

We really liked the tortillas, but they were a little thick in my opinion. Jeff insisted that they were the same thickness as the Cafe Rio tortillas (Since Cafe Rio is the standard as far as I'm concerned), but I think they were a little thicker. I think I'm going to need to follow Jaime's advice and get a tortilla press.


Recipe for tortillas located here

Jeff and I both agree that the chicken we made for our tacos was not so great. It was ok, but it wasn't amazing. We opted in for just getting a packet of taco seasoning, but that really wasn't the best idea. Luckily Jaime also recommend a recipe for Pork Tacos with Chili Verde (see comment on Backing with "Baking with Jeff: Eclairs and Tarts" for the recipe) which Jeff and I are going to try on our next taco night!

CSA: Box 3...More veggies from Honey Brook Organic Farm

Another Wednesday, another CSA Box! I just love getting these boxes. It's so hard to wait until I get home to open it and see what we got this week!

We got more swiss red chard, lettuce, broccoli, beets, and....

 Scallions

 Zucchini

 Cabbage

I'm really excited about the Zucchini!

We actually made a substantial dent in the vegetables we got in our last box. We had stir fry (Jeff makes really good stir fry), lots of salads, soup, and pesto! It was my first attempt at pesto and it turned out ok, but I think I need to work. Those garlic scapes are just really intense! Good, but intense! We've now used the pesto for the stir fry, burgers, and on some tacos. 

Friday Favorites: Pizza is my favorite!

I've always loved pizza! I don't care what's on it or if it's hot or cold....I will eat it. It's just so good.

While we were staying at Jon and Anne's, Jon made homemade pizza. I couldn't believe how easy and delicious it was! Yeah, it does take time to get the crust perfect (Jon has been making pizza for years), but I think it's totally worth investing my time in perfecting my own crust and making homemade pizza instead of ordering it.

I'm still working on it, but once I get the recipe the way I want it I will share. The above picture is one of my first attempts at it. It was good, but I have to get the baking process down. The center isn't cooking right. I hear it's best to make it on a pizza stone, but I need to figure that out. Cause you need the pizza stone to heat up first and then put the pizza on it and that just seems complicated. If anyone has any tips please let me know.

Our First Christmas

Since we have been doing a lot of traveling as of late we decided to stay home for Christmas. We got a Christmas tree and a few decorations to help spruce up the place and get in festive spirit.

We got the tree at Home Dept and were so grateful for the nice man that tied it to the top of Jeff's car for us. Mom sent a few of my Christmas ornaments that my Grandma made over the years to help decorate the tree. I made a few ornaments as well. Thanks Martha Stewart!I made this little Christmas card wreath to help display all the beautiful Christmas cards we got. Once again, thanks Martha Stewart!Grandma A made Christmas stockings for us! Mom and Dad filled them with little gifts for us to open on Christmas morning.We bought a nice nativity scene at Macy's. We bought it on the 23rd and it was 70% off. Go with that I say!For dinner I made ribs and parmesan sweet potato fries and Jeff made a lovely goat cheese wanton salad. I know it's not very traditional, but it was sooo good. Then we finished the night off with some apple pie and ice cream. It was a really nice Christmas, but poor Jeff was really sick, but I don't think he mind sitting around playing Wii Sport Resort for most of the day.P.S. Doesn't Jeff look so excited for me to be taking his picture. I think he has a rough life ahead of him. :)

Cooking with Ashley: Part 5

Cooking Assignment: Roasted Chicken and Vegetables with Rosemary-Corn Muffins.

The Sister Missionaries and Karen joined us for dinner last Sunday. We decided it was the perfect opportunity to make the roasted chicken and vegetables.

Making roasted chicken and vegetables has been on our list of things do make since starting these little cooking lessons. Ashley is a big fan of the roasted vegetables and thought it was an essential dish to teach me. I couldn't believe how simple it was to make. I'm truly a fan of sweet potatoes.


The roasted chicken was also good and so easy to make. Who knew? I'm not sure why, but I really liked the fact that we put a whole lemon in the chicken. With the thyme and sage, the chicken tasted amazing. I really need to make this again soon.


Ashley decided to make Rosemary-Corn Muffins to go with the chicken and vegetables. Best move very. These muffins are really good. You can get the recipe here.

Cooking with Ashley: Part 4

Cooking Assignment: Cheese ravioli with Pumpkin Alfredo sauce and sautéed spinach with raisins, apples, and pine nuts.

I love ravioli! It’s one of my favorite foods. Ashley decided it was a good idea to teach me how to make an easy yet tasty sauce for me to make for my ravioli . Brilliant idea! Luckily Ashley had a recipe for low-fat Pumpkin Alfredo sauce. It was super easy to make and tasted amazing! (PS. I don’t make my own ravioli. I buy it from the Ravioli King or Fair Way)
We also made sautéed spinach with raisins, apples, and pine nuts. It’s a favorite dish of Ashley’s and a perfect side dish.Jen G (good friend from church) came over to help us eat the tasty food! After dinner we decided that a dessert was necessary, so Ashley and Jen made cookies. They were amazing! I’m a sucker for a delicious cookie.
Next Assignment: Roasted Chicken Roasted Vegetables.

Cooking with Ashley: Part 3

Cooking Assignment: White-Cheddar Corn Chowder and Orange Rolls
We decided to make a soup for this cooking lesson. Ashley found a White-Cheddar Corn Chowder recipe on Martha Stewart Living and we decided to give it a try. It was delicious! I will most defiantly make it again.
We also made Orange Rolls. These are a Groesbeck family holiday tradition. They are amazing. I ate like five of them! I'm glad Ashley was willing to make them with me.

Cooking with Ashley (and Karen!): Part 2

Cooking Assignment: Crab Puffs (Crab Rangoons), Stir-Fry, and Fresh Berry Tart.

I love Crab Puffs. I was very distraught when I couldn't find them here in New York. While talking with Ashley one day I was delighted to find out they they do have Crab Puffs here, but they are called Crab Rangoons and Ashley knows how to make them! Of course she had to show me! We decided on Crab Rangoons, Stir-Fry, and a Fresh Berry tart for our Sunday dinner menu. Karen joined us and made the Stir-Fry (she makes some good Stir-Fry). Everything turned out great! I love cooking with the girls!

So, Ashley was taking my picture and I'm not sure what we were talking about, but I exclaimed, "I'm a tart!" We all started laughing and this is the resulting picture. I love the conversations we have in 0ur apartment. We just laugh so hard. (Liz is currently out of town and very missed)
Next Cooking Assignment: Corn Chowder and Rolls

Cooking with Ashley: Part I

One of my goals for this year is to improve my cooking skills. I'm not a bad cook, but I'm really inexperienced. I'm good at cooking a few select things. Well, I decided to recruit some of the amazing cooks I know to help me improve. Luckily I live with one of the best cooks I know...Ashley!...and she's willing to help me in my cooking education.
Our first cooking assignment: Cheesy Garlic Bread Swirls (click for recipe)
Ashley follows a blog called Our Best Bites and found this recipe. If it has bread and cheese, I'm there! They're so good! It's always fun cooking with Ashley.
Karen (another one of the AMAZING cooks I know!) is coming over tomorrow and we are making Stir-Fry and Crab Rangoons (crab puffs!). I can't wait! Cooking with Ashley and Karen?... I'm going to be in the presence of greatness!