The Sunday Chef: Zucchini Casserole

Ingredients:
-2 lbs of zucchini diced (or julienne)
-1/4 cup onion
-Can mushroom soup
-Cup sour cream
-Cup shredded carrot
-8 oz of stuffing (or old bread crumbs)
-1/2 cup melted butter
-2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
-Cup colby or cheddar cheese grated

Directions:
1. Steam zucchini and onion in water for 5 minutes
2. Combine soup, sour cream, and carrot in a large bowl
3. Add zucchini and onions
4. Spread 1/2 stuffing mix in 8 1/2 x 11 baking dish
5. Layer zucchini mixture on top
6. Top with the rest of the stuffing
7. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and other cheese over the top
8. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees

Review:
This is a great creamy side dish that can be paired with a lot of main courses.  It is a great way to get rid of old bread too!  The first time I made this recipe I diced the zucchini, but next time I think I'd like to try cutting it into a julienne.  Other than that it is a very filling dish that many will love!  Thanks aunt Linda :).

The Sunday Chef: Risotto with Roasted Tomatoes and Garlic

Ingredients:
-6-8 cups of chicken stock
-1/3 cup of olive oil
-1/2 cup finely chopped onion (white)
-1/2 cup finely chopped celery
-2 tsp salt
-2 cups of arborio rice
-Cup dry white wine
-1/2 cup grated parmiagiano reggiano
-1 cup of cherry or grape tomatoes
-5 cloves of garlic

Directions:
1. On a cookie sheet, spread out tomatoes and garlic.  Drizzle olive oil over the top.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
2. In a separate pot, heat up stock (almost to a boil).
3.  Put the olive oil in the risotto pan.  Add the onions and celery and 1 teaspoon of salt.  When the onions begin to color, add the rice all at once.
4. Stir for a couple of minutes until the grains are toasted, but not browned.
5. Pour in the wine and cook, stirring continuously until nearly all the liquid has been absorbed.
6. Ladle in 2 cups of hot stock and stir steadily as the rice absorbs the liquid.  When you can see the bottom of the pan, quickly ladle in another couple of cups and the remaining salt.
7. Cook until the stock is almost completely absorbed.  You should be stirring this whole time.  Ladle in another cup or so of stock.  Continue this process until you have used about 6 cups of stock and about 15-20 minutes has passed.
8. Remove the tomatoes and garlic from the oven.  Remove garlic from the skin and pour the garlic and tomatoes into the risotto.  Stir.
9.  Add cheese while stirring.  Serve immediately.

Review:
The risotto came out al dente.  The sauce was creamy and the rice was not mushy, but had substance to it.  I made a half of a serving because that is a lot of risotto that it makes.  You can add almost any ingredients you wish (i.e. mushrooms, meat, spinach, etc.).  I would recommend using a food processor for the onion and celery.  You almost want it to blend in with the rice and mine was too large.  I do not recommend this recipe when hosting because it requires a 20 minute block of time that you cannot leave your risotto.  You really must stir the whole time otherwise it will burn and not cook evenly.  A great side dish worth the effort!

The Sunday Chef: Beouf Bourguignon

Ingredients:

-1/4 cup olive oil

-8 oz button mushrooms, trimmed and quartered if large

-5 strips bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

-3 pounds boneless beef rump roast (or chuck) cut into 1-inch pieces

-Coarse salt and ground pepper

-Clove garlic, smashed

-Tbsp tomato paste

-2 tbsp flour

-3 cups dry red wine

-2 cups beef stock

-Bay leaf

-4 carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks

-10 oz pearl onions, peeled

-2 tbsp butter, cut into pieces

-2 tbsp parsley, chopped (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

2.In a 5-quart Dutch oven with a tight fitting lid, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high. Add mushrooms and cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate. 

3. Generously season beef with salt and pepper. Add 1 tablespoon oil to pot and brown meat, in batches, 2 to 3 minutes per batch (add up to 1 tablespoon oil per batch as needed); transfer to plate. 

4. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon oil. Add bacon to pot and cook over medium until brown, 5 to 6 minutes. 

5. Add tomato paste, cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. 

6. Add flour, cook 30 seconds, 

7. Add wine, stock, bay leaf, garlic, and meat.  Bring to a boil, cover and transfer to oven. Cook for 1 1/2 hours. 

8. Remove from oven and add carrots and onions. Return to oven and cook until meat is very tender and vegetables are tender, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. 

9. 15 minutes before end of cooking remove, add mushrooms to pot. 

10. Remove from oven and stir in 1 tablespoon butter. Serve topped with parsley.

11. Optional--add a dollop of cream cheese on top when serving.

Review:

Oh my gosh!  Talk about nailing a recipe.  This meal is great on a cool fall day or cold winter day.  Don't fix this one in the dead of summer because you are going to heat up the house quite a bit.  This is not a set it and forget it dish.  There are chunks of time in between steps, but overall you cannot just let it be.  The result is definitely worth the effort though.  The meat comes out tender and moist.  The sauce is thick and flavorful.  The veggies are cooked just right, not too much.  I love adding the dollop of cream cheese at the end because it creates this creaminess.  I served this with egg noodles, but it would also be great with mashed potatoes.  Enjoy!

The Sunday Chef: Skillet-Braised Chicken Bundles

Ingredients:
-Large Carrot (cut in chunks)
-Large Celery Stalk (cut in chunks)
-Medium Onion (cut in chunks)
-10 fresh sage leaves
-2 garlic cloves
-5 tbsp olive oil
-2 tsp salt
-2.5 lbs boneless, skinless, chicken thighs
-6 strips of bacon
-2 cups dry white wine
-3 cups canned plum tomatoes (preferable san marzano)
-2/3 tbsp parmigiano reggiano

Directions:
1. Mince the onion, carrot, celery, 4 sage leaves, and garlic to make pestata.  Cook with pestata in 2 tbsp of oil until it starts to stick to the bottom of the pan.
2. Trim chicken thighs of fat, place plastic wrap on top and pound with mallet to flatten.  Sprinkle with salt
3. Spread a tbsp of pestata on each thigh.  Fold thighs into thirds (like a letter) and wrap with a piece of bacon long way around each bundle.  Place toothpick through bacon and chicken to hold it together.
4. Pour 3 tbsp of olive oil into the big skillet.  Put chicken bundles in pan.  Turn when lightly caramelized.  Once they are brown, drop the remaining pestata in between the bundles.
5. When everything is sizzling, pour in the wine and bring to bubbling simmer.  Cook until wine has reduced by half.  Pour crushed tomatoes and juices all over the bundles.  Mix the sauce.
6.  Cover the pan, adjust the heat to keep simmer steady, and cook for 25-30 minutes.
7. Finish with grated cheese.

Review:
Delicious!  This is a time consuming dish, however the result is worth it.  The chicken is tender, the sauce is flavorful, and the texture is varied.  I served this with a mashed potato, but many side dishes would go well with this main dish.  This recipe was taken from Lidia Bastianich's cookbook.  Highly recommended!

What I Learned in School

Posted on July 28, 2011 by mreece85

HDR is AMAZING!  For those of you that are not aware of this technique, it is called High Dynamic Range and it basically involves taking the same image in at least three different exposures, and combining them together.  The ability to do this allows for a photograph that is correctly exposed everywhere.  I am so upset that I didn’t learn about this before my trip to Europe.  Here are some examples of a couple of photos I took this afternoon.  You be the judge of what you like better…
Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

I think the best picture is clear to see.  Watch out world, there are some amazing photographs coming your way!

Putting it all Together

Posted on July 23, 2011 by mreece85

Yesterday I received four large packages containing all the goods I needed to frame my prints.  Full of excitement, I spent most of the day cutting and framing.  My prints look soooo nice.  I feel such a sense of accomplishment by creating these products.  Yesterday I did my work on the kitchen table and on the floor.  Perhaps one day I will do this work in my own studio.  My art hangs in my bedroom on a long wall.  Perhaps one day my art will hang in galleries or possibly even museums as my ability grows.  It truly felt that something was coming together, and new opportunities are arising.
On September 10, there is an art fair in Plainfield.  I have been searching for local art fairs that are still accepting applications, and this is the only one that I have discovered.  The price is right and the timing is good.  Today, I will apply for this fair, and begin the list of things to do.  I have been thinking about this for awhile, so I have an idea, but there definitely is a lot.  I am essentially starting up a small business.  Here are some thoughts on what I would like/need to do:
-I want the booth to be set up so that samples are out for the prints, and below in drawers are the protected prints.  So many times people come through with their funnel cake fingers and get smudges on the mats.  I want everything to be in the best condition possible.  The good thing is school items are on sale, so maybe I can get some good organizers for a good price.
-I will sell framed prints, matted prints, cards, and framed word art.  Now that I cut my own mats, I can frame my word art.  I think I will have some generic words, and also come with a portfolio if people want to order custom made work.
-I need to figure out how complicated it is to start an account for a business name, I don’t want to have people make out checks to me.
-I have to get a tax ID and figure out all of the other things necessary.  I think I will wait to get a credit card machine for next year.  I’m not ready for the merchant ID and all of the other things I need to do.
Overall, I think that by working hard to prepare for this art fair will set me up for next summer.  I would like to participate in the Geneva, Madison, and other art fairs.  These can be challenging to be accepted into, so I need to try to gain a little experience.  I also need to work on my artist statement.  So much to do, but I have to try so that I can learn and be even more prepared for the next show.  More information will be coming later, and I hope you will come out to see my work.
If anyone has any information or recommendations for a first timer, please feel free to share!

A Future Home?

Posted on July 18, 2011 by mreece85

I have enjoyed going to Indianapolis ever since I was little.  It sounds strange that Indiana can host such an interesting place, but I absolutely love it.  I realized that one of the major draws that keeps my interest in the city is my family and their friends.  My aunt is such a great host and seems to bring the city alive.  For quite awhile I have considered relocating to this place that I like so much, and this trip has reaffirmed my beliefs about this city being a place I could call home.
My friend Crystal and I headed out early to make our way for the Hoosier State.  It was a fast drive down.  We jammed to some music and Crystal enjoyed making fun of my unintentional dance moves.  When we arrived, we were greeted with beautiful weather.  We decided to make the most of the bearable temperatures by going shopping in Broad Ripple.  We visited some boutiques and I bought a dress that can be worn 100 different ways (or something like that).  I like Broad Ripple a lot because it is artsy and very alive.  It is definitely one of the happening areas in the city.  After a little shopping we returned home to have delicious lasagna.  We enjoyed a good family meal and then Crystal I decided to go out on the town to see what was going on.

The biggest challenge was parking, but once we found a spot, we headed to Chumley’s for their Schooners.  The bouncer gave me a hard time and didn’t believe it was me that was photographed in my ID.  He asked for a second ID, but of course I didn’t have one, so he just let me in.  Someone said that I looked like I was 12, which I disagree with.  The bar was really busy and happening.  Some guys gave up their seats so we could sit at the bar while we sipped on our boat of a drink.  These glasses were not easy to hold onto, so I was thankful to have the bar to hold onto it for me.  We each did a shot, and made our way back home.
The next morning we woke up early.  We started at the Art Museum gardens since the weather was cooperating.  We walked around on some of the paths and ran under the sprinklers.  Some did not make it through without getting wet.  We also stopped at the greenhouse.  I found some baby tears that I really liked and they gave it to me for free, which is a great price.  This was another example of how friendly people are down there.

After the gardens, we drove to Zionsville.  I LOVE Zionsville.  It is a quaint town with antique shops and restaurants.  The houses are adorable with their extravagant gardens.  I found a house, but unfortunately it was not for sale.  I will definitely be considering this town as a future home.  I liked the atmosphere and I think I could incorporate my photography.  We stopped in a gallery and I asked the lady behind the desk more about how artists were able to display their work.  She said it was a co-op where artists pay a monthly fee and work once a week.  All profits are then entirely given to the artist.  I love this idea because it is reasonable and it would be an opportunity to get to know people.  As I was thinking about it more, I realized I would like to live in a town where people know me, maybe not everyone, but a descent amount.  When I go to get groceries, wine, or whatever goods I need, I want people to recognize me and vice versa.  I want to live in a community that I am motivated to give back to and truly be a part of.  Aurora is so large, it just seems impossible.  I just don’t feel invested in this place.  One of the back-roads antique stores we went to was owned by a man originally from Libertyville, IL.  He said it is a little bit of culture shock to come down there, but people are a little more relaxed and much more friendly and trusting.  I love the idea of that.
We ate at a cute bistro that served a wonderful lunch.  We sat outside under multicolored umbrellas while the wind kept the bugs away.  It was a relaxing afternoon.
After Zionsville, we went back home for a bit to take a nap and relax a little.  Once we were a little more rested, we returned to the Art Museum to see the artwork inside.  We saw Picasso, Monet, Cezanne, O’Keeffe, and more.  It was a nicely set up museum.  We did not spend too much time there because we had a party to get ready for.
The 60′s were making a return appearance at my aunt’s house for the evening.  She belongs to a group called “Lilies.”  They are friends that have known each other for a long time and their lives have intertwined throughout the years.  Most of them are turning 60 this year, and this party was the celebration of one of those birthdays.  The pictures came out, Harvey Wallbangers were served, music was playing, and the ladies remembered their times together.  They have seen a lot throughout the years: heartbreak, death, birth, and life changes, but the constant has been their friendship.  We had a great evening, and it was even equipped with special brownies (peanut butter was the special ingredient).
As I sat back and listened to the conversation, I was in awe of the experiences they have been through together.  I hope to reach that age and look back at my life with the same fulfillment.  Something else that was really interesting was the support from the group for my career change/move.  One of the friends even offered a duplex to rent.  Another friend, which I have known for quite a while and spent a good amount of time with even researched possible careers for me.  It just amazes me that they were so welcoming and  invested time to the idea.  I am considering several locations for a future home, but I think that the Indianapolis area would offer something very important, family.  Not that I would see them very often, but to know that I have support close by would truly make it feel like home.  Plus, I’m not that far away from my parents, so I really do think it could work.  This night was a such a great night.  I think I’m an old soul at heart (not that I am saying they are old, but I mean for my age).  I hope they don’t mind that I am posting this photograph…

The next morning we woke up with a mission, the winery.  We left around 9 and started the two hour trek to Southern Indiana.  It was a beautiful drive and as soon as I reached the winery, I remembered how much we enjoyed it last time.  We made our way to the tasting room first where we did the 5 S’s: see, swirl, smell, sip, and savor.  Our host took care of us with a few extra tastings.  The wine was fantastic.  At one point I looked over at my aunt and her friend.  I was so happy to see that they enjoyed something as much as we did.  It seemed like they were having a really good time.  My aunt couldn’t believe wine this good could be grown in Indiana.  After the tasting we grabbed some lunch, listened to some music, and walked around a little.  It was a very warm day, so we did not spend too much time outside.

After the winery, we took the back roads to Bloomington.  I asked Janey for an address in Bloomington so I could put it in my Garmin.  Unfortunately I heard Kent Street instead of 10th Street, so we had to do a little back-tracking.  I don’t think Crystal is going to let me live that one down.  We eventually made it.  We walked around the square some, where every building had missing posters for Lauren Spierer.  We cooled off and regenerated with some coffee at a local cafe.
Later that night we decided to catch a band at a local pub.  It was an Irish Folk band, and they were pretty good.  There were some funny songs mixed in with some sadder songs.  I was hoping to hear some that I knew, like “Whiskey in the Jar,” but it wasn’t meant to be.  It was a great way to end a great trip.
Every trip I go on, big or small, I feel like I learn something.  When I see my aunt, I see a similar life I would like to live.  She takes care of herself and I can’t imagine her having many regrets about her life.  I am so thankful to have such a great family, even if it is kind of small.