Daily Fluff

Beau accurately represented my feelings about getting out of bed this morning.  Please don't make me.

Bacon, Corn, and Pesto

Three of my favorite things!  And when combined, make a creamy sauce reminiscent of cabonara.  First things first.  I don't like corn on the cob, it gets in my teeth and it's hard to eat and is messy.  So I always take my corn off the cob before sauteing it.  And as my mom the gourmande taught me, the best method is this:

Use a bundt pan to hold the cob and scrape the corn off with a knife and it all falls into the pan!  And takes no time at all.  And onto the corn pesto.  Stud and I are huge pesto fans, so I will try any and every version.  I already posted about classic pesto, and I have a recipe for a tomato pesto that I haven't made to post yet, and then I saw this corn pesto when I was reading my Bon Appetit.  With bacon!!  Must try.

Corn Pesto

4 bacon slices cut into small pieces

5-6 ears of corn, corn removed from the cob

1 garlic clove

1 1/4 t. kosher salt

3/4 t. black pepper

1/2 c. Parmesan cheese

1/3 c. pine nuts, toasted

1/3 c. olive oil

1 lb tagliatelle or fettuccine

3/4 c. fresh basil leaves

Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crispy.  Remove from skillet and drain the fat until there is about 1 T. left in the pan.  Add the garlic and saute for a moment and then add the corn, salt, and pepper.  Cook until corn is tender, about four minutes.  Transfer about 1/3 of the corn to a small bowl and set aside, add the rest to a food processor.  Add the Parmesan cheese and pine nuts.  With the food processor running, adding the olive oil and blend until the pesto is smooth.  Cook the pasta according to package instructions.  When the pasta is finished, add it back to the pot with the corn pesto, reserved corn kernels, bacon, and chopped basil leaves.  Toss together until well combined.  And enjoy!

Stud LOVED this recipe.  I thought it was interesting and definitely something different, a good way to enjoy some summer corn.  We didn't have any fresh basil so I just threw some basil pesto into the food processor and I think the fresh basil would really add a lot.  Also, it made a ton!  The Bon Appetit recipe calls for 8oz of pasta and we used a whole pound and it was still a lot of sauce.  So you could probably cut back to 4-5 ears of corn, or make more pasta.  And have more leftovers!

Gram's Pumpkin Bread

In the spirit of it finally being fall, I thought I would share at least one decidedly fall recipe.  This is a recipe that actually came from my Mom's mom - I called her Gram.  So this is the copy I got from my mom as to directions to make pumpkin bread:

Thank goodness I can at least read my mom's handwriting, but that's pretty much all I have going for me with this one.  So I went in order of most baking recipes and hoped it worked - mix the dry ingredients together and add to the wet.  Mix until just combined.  Looks like it worked pretty well!

Gram's Pumpkin Bread (makes 2 loaves)
4 c. flour
2 c. sugar
2 t. nutmeg
2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. ginger
2 t. backing soda
1 t. salt
1/2 c. water
1 can pumpkin (Libby's is my fav)
1 c. oil
4 eggs
Optional - 2c. pecans or 2c. chocolate chips

Sift together the dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl.  In a large bowl, combine the water, pumpkin, oil and eggs.  Add the dry ingredients in four matches mixing only until combined.  Add pecans and or chocolate chips.  Distribute evenly between two large loaf pans and back for about an hour at 350.

Since I was experimenting and the recipe makes two, I split the batter up into two bowls and added 1c. of pecans to one and 1c. of chocolate chips to the other to see which I preferred.  And the winner is...Pecans!  I think the chocolate chips over-power the pumpkin deliciousness too much.  And next time I might add some more spices and kick up the flavor.  But it's pretty amazing as is.  I love fall food!

Winter Prep

I LOVE Old Navy's coat's for this winter - and through tomorrow, you can get 50% of one outerwear item with the code OUTER50.  For a printable coupon to take into the store, use this one.  That yellow one with the ruffle collar - now mine!  It was a tough decision.

    

    

I linked them all up to the Old Navy site, so go, shop (!!) before they are all gone!  And any local readers, I got mine at the Summit Old Navy and they had TONS!

Daily Fluff - Tornado Edition

I took an early-ish lunch today to head home and hang out with Beau - we were expecting some pretty serious storms.  Sure enough, as soon as I turned on the TV - tornado warning.  So off Beau and I went to the basement, and all he did the entire time was roll around on the floor whining since he couldn't play outside.  And attempt to sneak up the stairs.  And get into things he's not supposed to touch.  Clearly Beau is missing that sixth sense some dogs have when it comes to storms.

When the worst had passed, I let him outside.  It was still raining sideways, but he thought it was the best thing ever.  He spent a good ten minutes sprinting laps around the yard.  No common sense.

Chicken Taco Salad

This recipe comes from some issue of Cooking Light, so might not actually be jammed with calories like the rest of the recipes I post here!  This salad dressing is so delicious and is actually what I used as the sauce on the fish tacos I made for Stud's birthday.

Pretttty cell phone pic!

Chicken Taco Salad

Dressing:

1/3 c. chopped cilantro

2/3 c. light sour cream

1 T. minced chipotle chile, canned in adobo sauce (I freeze the rest in tablespoon size dollops to use later)

1 t. cumin

1 t. chili powder

4 t. lime juice

1/4 t. salt

Salad ingredients (ideas):

4 c. shredded romaine

2 chicken breasts

1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved

1 peeled avocado

1/2 red onion, sliced thinly

1 can black beans

1 can corn

Mix all the dressing ingredients together, I used a food processor to get the chilies to basically a paste.  Serve over whatever salad ingredients you like!  The dressing has quite a bit of kick, and is also great as a chip dip, you know, if you are hungry while your chicken is cooking.

And check out my newly organized recipe page!

Daily Fluff

Beau is a dog that decides he should always try something first, and then see if he gets reprimanded, if so, then he knows he has to be more sneaky.  Example 1:  Beau is not satisfied with the two dog beds he has.  The couch is much nicer.  But he knows he shouldn't be up there.  So he will quietly wander off and I'll find him here, hours later, when I finally notice that Beau has been missing and VERY quiet for a few hours.  Never good.