Check out this article by Mark Bittman

He is one of my favorite chefs. (Wouldn't it be fun to have chef trading cards? Okay, I'm weird) Anyway, he published this fun article in the NY Times about quick summer meals-- infact 101 of them.

Homemade Butter is Just That Easy ...

After a run-in with a random stranger during dinner at La Buvette one night, I was directed to an article in last week's New York Times magazine on how to make homemade butter and buttermilk. He said it took him 15 minutes and I didn't believe him for a second ... thankfully we didn't bet on it because after having made it myself on Thursday I found that it truly is one of the easiest and quickest recipes I have.

John and I ended up with 2 1/2 cups of homemade buttermilk (great for coffee, tea, as a base for soups and to mix with eggs/quiche instead of cream) and 3 1/2 cups of pure homemade butter. We kept some unsalted for cooking, mixed some with salt for toast and a bit more with honey.

The recipe says to use one of those fine KitchenAid mixers, which we don't have, so I just used a hand-held mixer.

Recipe:

Homemade Butter and Buttermilk from the NY Times

6 cups organic heavy cream

Salt to taste (opitonal)

1. Pour cream into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk (or pour into a large bowl for your hand-held mixer). Tightly cover the top of the bowl with plastic wrap (if using the KitchenAid - you have less control with a KitchenAid and as you'll see, your kitchen will quickly get splattered if you do not cover with plastic - I didn't use plastic with my mixer) and start mixer on medium-high speed. The cream will go through the whipped stage, thicken further and then change color from off-white to pale yellow; this will take at least 5 to 8 minutes. When it starts to look pebbly, it's almost done. After another minute the butter will separate, causing the liquid to splash against the plastic wrap. At this point stop the mixer.

2. Set a strainer over a bowl. Pour the contents of the mixer into the strainer and let the buttermilk drain through. Strain the buttermilk again, this time through a fine-mesh sieve set over a small bowl; set aside.

3. Keeping the butter in the strainer set over the first bowl, knead it to consolidate the remaining liquid and fat and expel the rest of the buttermilk. Knead until the texture is dense and creamy, about 5 minutes. Strain the excess liquid into the buttermilk. Refrigerate the buttermilk.

4. Mix salt into the butter if you want. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate.

We made granola tonight.

Kyle was inspired to start eating oatmeal everyday by a co-worker. He's been at it for a while, but has gotten tired of the same 'ol thing. We decided that granola counts as a bowl of oatmeal, too. This is my favorite granola recipe. It can be varied quite easily.

Cheryl's Granola

6 c. old fashioned oats
2 c. rice krispies or puffed wheat
1/2 c. unsweetened coconut or wheat germ
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2- 1 c. sliced almonds

1/3 c. oil
1/2 c. honey
1/4 c. maple syrup (or cheap pancake syrup!)
2 t. vanilla

Combine all the dry stuff (including brown sugar) Mix all the wet stuff together and pour over dry stuff, mixing well. Spread out on two cookie sheets covered with parchment paper. Bake at 250 degrees for 25 minutes. Stir. Bake another 25 minutes or until a bit browned. Don't brown it too much. Cool, break apart and store. You can add raisins when it is time to eat it. I don't store them in it because I think it makes the granola not as crunchy.

If anyone needs rosemary...

I have more than I will use. Stop by and I'll cut you a sprig.

What to feed baby.

Those little cans of baby food are so expensive. Here is a short list of much cheaper options that we fed our kids. I tried to list ones you might not have though of. But you all probably have-- you're all so smart.

Instant potato flakes, reconstituted

Canned pumpkin

Dried split peas, cooked and mushed

V-8 soup (V-8 and milk-- a favorite of Linus)

Apple sauce cups instead of babyfood applesauce

Rice cakes

Avocado chunks

Tortellini, cooked until really mushy

Banana mushed with tahini (which is sesame seed butter-- good protein)

Mandarin oranges

Scrambled eggs

Fruit smoothies

Toast strips

While of the topic of quick meals....

I recently checked this book out from the library. Though it lacks photos, I really like it a lot. Lots of very good recipes. Two thumbs up.

Inspired summer dinner.

First, I want to apologize for being a stinky blog moderator. I've been very slow about posting!

Secondly, I wanted to share on of our meals on our list for this week: hot dogs! Yep, you heard right. Good 'ol hot dogs. I've been having a craving-- a non-pregnant craving, just in case any of your minds were wondering.

Here's what we're putting on them.

Whole-grain buns (to justify the eating of hot dogs)
beef franks (we've NEVER found a good veggie dog)
chopped onion
relish
chopped fresh tomatoes
mustard
chopped cucumber

Thai Chicken Lettuce Cups and Vietnamese Coffee

Click here to get that recipe for Thai Chicken Lettuce Cups. They are yummy! They were in this month's Cooking Light, for those of you who subscribe.

The only modification I made was to save myself from chopping serrano chilis, i added about half a teaspoon to a teaspoon of garlic chili paste instead. and i forgot about the peanuts. but it was just as good without.

NOW, THE COFFEE
the vietnamese coffee doesn't really have a recipe. i usually make it with eensy tin vietnamese coffee cups that you sit on top of a glass and let drip. but i decided to save me some time and just made SUPER strong presspot coffee instead. it worked pretty well. can you tell i was in a hurry? :)

first make a half to full pot of coffee with about 2-3 times the grounds you normally would.

then stir in sweetened condensed milk to your taste (i used about half a can).

after the milk has mixed in, add a bunch of ice. the ice melts to provide more water and also makes it cold, of course. you'll need lots...maybe 4 trays? taste it after the ice has been added and melted. then add more mlik or ice if you need.

please o please

daphne, could you post your recipes for lettuce wraps and vietnamese coffee? andrew wants to make the wraps, i want the coffee.

here's to cutting out at intermission!