Beaujolais Nouveau

I've always wondered what the big deal was w/Beaujolais Nouveau.  I knew it only came it once a year, knew it was big enough for a parade, but besides that didn't know too much more about it.  Did a little research and found out that the wines are the first release of the year.  Kelly and I tried one a couple weeks back and it wasn't bad at all.  It was, although not a wine connoiseur, what I would have expected of and tasted like a 'young' wine.  It was a bit tart, not a very full body.  Nonetheless, not a bad wine at all.  I'd drink it again next year.

Anniversary

I was going through some of my old posts and realized that my one year anniversary for blogging was Nov. 4th.  Who knew?!  Honestly, I'm pleasantly surprised that I've made it this long.  As I mentioned over a year ago when I first started, I wasn't sure if this was just going to be a short little daliance into blogging, but I've really come to enjoy the writing.  It may not be the most thought provoking, must-read, introspective work, but to each their own. 

I'm quite pleased with myself that I've made it this far and am looking forward to writing down more ramblings as they come.  Now I just need to write more frequently.

Cookbooks

I really like cookbooks.  Like most people I'm sure, I especially like bright, lively, books with pictures of what the meal 'could' and 'should' look like.  These cookbooks are all fine and dandy, but recently I realized that for me anyways, they haven't been all that useful and utilized.  More importatly, I suppose, I've come across a book thats been a lot more helpful and enlightening.  One thats actually been tucked away, unopened, for probably 2 years. 

I decided to open the book for some reason a few weeks back and it was a revelation.  I had been using recipes found online and in books or just cooking things be experimenting,  without necessarily knowing what I was doing, or the techniques I was using.  This book, more like a binder, on how to cook is broken up and indexed very well.  Basically, its broken up into types of food (i.e. beef, vegetables, eggs, bread, etc).  On top of that it expains different techniques such as braising, roasting, and more.  The book goes into the types of meats, veggies, and other foods and how best to prepare them.  I found it very interesting and as I was reading, felt a lot of gaps fill in in my missing food knowledge.  Gaps I wasn't even sure were there.  I'd definitely suggest it so check it out.  And of course, there are a lot of recipes to choose from!

Recipes

I've been using recipes online forever, but have recently become enamored with one particular website.  Normally, I just google whatever it is that comes to mind, then look through the various links to see which recipe I like (meaning which one I can pull off) and use that one.  http://www.allrecipes.com/ is a site that is often near the top and after some recent exploration of it, I really, really like it.

The reason(s) I really like and use the site are that its very user friendly and oriented.  Users can register and log in and once they've done so, are able to save/add recipes to their 'recipe box.'  It's genius!  Once you find a recipe that you really like by using the search function, you just click the add button and then organize it into the appropriate categories (i.e. appetizer, main dish, bread, etc.).  All the recipes on the site are 'user' added and other members can rate it and give comments/feedback/suggestions. 

Go ahead and check it out.  I'm sure you'll find it useful.

Holla, Challah!

I've been struggling with how, and wanting to make bread for awhile now.  I finally found a good recipe that was perfect for me.  It was relatively easy to make, I didn't need any special ingredients, nor did I need any special tools/equipment.  Right up my alley.

I found a recipe for challah.  My inner Jew just loves it.  It goes great w/butter, honey, or just plain, a bit warmed up.  Delicious.

As I've started messing around with baking more, bread was one thing that I was really interested in, but haven't quite made yet because I didn't have a bread pan, not did I have one of those processors with the plastic spin/spoon thing. 

This recipe just required rolling the dough out into three equal ropes, after allowing to rise.  Then all you do is braid the 3 together, let rise once more and bake basically.  Easy...well...easy enough. 

Now onto tougher breads.

Packers - Undefeated

I debated even writing this post because I'm a little superstitious, but in the end, all I care about is that we win the super bowl, not about an undefeated season.  The Pack is the only remaining undefeated team at 7-0 and now that we're almost at the halfway point, people are starting to talk about it. 

Every few years a team makes a relatively deep, undefeated run and people start talking and comparing them to '72 Dolphins and the '07 Patriots.  The Dolphins are the last team to go undefeated and win the Super Bowl.  The Patriots went undefeated in the regular season, but lost in the playoffs.  To have such an amazing season, but not win it all would be painful.

If it came down to it, I'd rather see us lose a game or two for learning and refocusing so that we got hot at the right time.  Last year's team didn't have great regular season, but they got hot in the end.  Back to back do or die wins against the Bears certainly helped propel them forward.  Either way, the Lombardi Trophy is what matters.  If we can make it a perfect season, even better.

Brewers - playoff baseball!

There Brewers are in the playoffs!  For the first time since I believe '82 they've won their division.  They made it in '08 as the wild card, but got bounced out by Philly.  This year, they have home field for the first series agains the Diamondbacks and there is a great buzz with the team.  They have the best home record in the majors and finally, finally have a solid starting pitching rotation.  They seem to be a very complete team as well.  Great set up man in K-Rod and a closer who has saved 46 straight.  Oh...and they can hit.  4 guys w/over 20 home runs and possibly the best 1-2 punch combo in Braun/Fielder.

I'll be going to the game tomorrow and am pumped!  Had the privilege of going in '08 and there's nothing like playoff baseball.  Packed house, thundersticks, and amazing energy.  Who knows, anything can happen w/these new and improved Brewers!