Dessert Day: My Favorite Gingerbread

Can I just mention how much I love Dessert Days! For those that don't remember, each week I try to make one new dessert for Gilbert and I to splurge on.  I got the idea from my best friend, Decoy Betty, who calls the days where she makes a new dessert, Dessert Day. This week, I decided to make Gingerbread.

Gingerbread

I fondly remember many winter nights when I was a child that involved warm, moist gingerbread.  What I love most about gingerbread is the smell that wafts around the house.  It's one of those smells that always recalls happy memories for me.

Gingerbread with Cream Cheese Frosting

I used to eat it plain or with powdered suger sprinkled on top, but I've recently been all about the cream cheese frosting. 

Do you have a favorite dessert who's smell brings back wonderful memories?

I'm Back... With Baja-Style Fish Tacos!

I know, I know..... I've been terrible at blogging this past month.  It started with an illness that incapacitated me for a week.  Then, during said illness my Funemployment finally ended.  Hello working again!  Needless to say, things have been busy and great around here. Starting a new job (that I love) has really messed with my schedule.  So, over the past month I've really just been making some standard easy dishes, some I've already shared and others not really blog worthy.... yet.

But, I think I've got a good schedule down now and I decided to come back with a great summer dish, Baja-Style Fish Tacos!  If you're anything like me, the idea of a fish taco might kind of gross you out at first.  

Baja-Style Fish Tacos

1) It's just not something you tend to see in Northern NH

2) The idea is just odd

3) I normally hate cabbage

But, Gilbert LOVES them.  So, when he brought them up for, probably, the twentieth time, I gave in.  Best food decision I've made this week!  They have such a wonderful combinations of flavor that is perfect for the summertime (hey, a girl can dream that it's summer already).  

My Favorite Thai Fried Rice!

I don't know about you all, but Daylight Savings Time has really screwed with my sleeping.  I've gotten on the most horrible sleeping schedule.  I can't sleep for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time and thus have to sleep twice during the day.  It's made grocery shopping and cooking difficult to say the least.  But, it won't stop me from sharing my favorite Thai Fried Rice recipe!

Thai Fried Rice

The best part: It's quick, easy and involves using up old rice.  And let's be honest, there is no good reason to keep old rice, unless you plan to use it for something like this!

 Do you have a favorite use for left over rice?

My Favorite Galette.... Involves Cheese, Obviously

About 2 years ago now, we had an abundant supply of squash from my Mum's wonderful garden.  Something I'm going to miss this year not being in New Hampshire.  Although, Gilbert and I are thinking about setting up a two tiered planter, if you have advice for any that you've tried please share!  My goal is to have fresh herbs and things like tomatoes, peppers and maybe some lettuce.  I'm not quite sure yet.

Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Galette
Blurry Photo

Anyhow, back to the squash, my Mum and I were scouring the internet and our cookbooks for recipes and we came across two that we fell in love with.  I love falling in love with recipes and knowing that they'll be in your life forever.  The first one that I'm going to share with you is my favorite Galette.  I found it on Smitten Kitchen, it's a Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Galette.  It's incredible.  I make it for every potluck I go to and it's always the first thing to go.

Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Galette
Non-Blurry Photo

What's your favorite squash dish?

Dessert Day: Fudge Pudding Cake!

This week's Dessert Day (inspired by Decoy Betty) brings to you one of my favorite desserts growing up.  My Mum used to make this a lot whenever anyone needed comforting.  Whenever I make it, it brings back memories of a wonderful childhood, filled with chocolate and my Aunt Dot's Pudding Sauce.

Fudge Pudding Cake

This Fudge Pudding Cake is a lot like the Lemon Pudding Cake I made last week, but involves completely difference science to make it work.  As I mentioned last week, Fudge Pudding Cake always seemed like a magical dessert to me.  It involves making a batter, putting it in a pan, sprinkling chocolate and sugar on top and then pouring boiling water over it.  And, somehow you're left with something that turns into a chocolate pudding on the bottom and a cake on the top.  Seriously, when you're 6 years old, it seems like witchcraft.... in the best way!

Fudge Pudding Cake

Is there a dessert from your childhood that always seemed magical to you?

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

The first time I had Pulled Pork I was in New Hampshire, and I loved it!  Then last November I went camping at the Dry Tortugas National Park and stopped for real BBQ in Charleston, South Carolina.  You guys, it was incredible!  I didn't know that Barbecue could taste so good.

Pulled Pork with Roasted Maple-Butter Carrots

When we got back from our vacation, we bought a slow cooker and we knew the first thing we wanted to make was pulled pork.  The first recipe we tried was tasty but I wasn't wowed.  Then I got America's Test Kitchen's Slow Cooker Revolution for Christmas.  We finally made the recipe for Pulled Pork last night.  And I have to tell you, it was everything I wanted it to be and more!  I'm convinced it's all because of the smoked Ham Hocks.  I also really loved it with these Roasted Maple-Butter Carrots.

We also finally found a great place to go grocery shopping with farm fresh produce and meat.  The Trenton Farmer's Market.  Every thing I made this past week just tasted a little bit better because of the freshness of the ingredients.  I've been missing that soo much.

I think it's safe to say we've got a few days worth of lunches left!

Left over Pulled Pork!

What's your favorite BBQ meal or slow cooker dish?