Parmesan Panko Potatoes

I love alliteration, don't you? It's fabulous and fun to find fanciful foundries and....eh, I give up. Anyway.

Lent update: I haven't cheated yet! I have been keeping up not eating meat on Fridays-yayy!  Last week I was working and my supervisor took me to lunch-and I was tempted to eat steak. But Michael reminded me, it was Friday, so we actually changed restaurants and I ordered a pasta dish.
Success :)
In the meatless spirit, I have a potato dish to share today. It's a side, and a healthier alternative to french fries. They're pretty tasty-I hope you enjoy!

Parmesan Panko Potatoes

Adapted from a blog that has since been deleted, sad :(

Simple Biscuits

I have a bunch of biscuit recipes to share with you (not all at once, today is just this one). It seems like such a silly thing to have made a bunch of versions of, but, biscuits are great! They're a quick, easy, and delicious breakfast! Flaky, buttery, and warm-it's a great way to start your day!

Dark Chocolate Truffles (UPDATED PHOTOS)

 Ugh. Again. Sorry about the pictures. I'm trying to get all of these pre-new camera photos used up because, you guys, I have so many pretty pictures to share with you. I promise. Also, if/when I re-make recipes I've already posted, I will steadily replace photos with...better ones.

Also-I seem to be incapable of making pretty truffles. It's unfortunate. I'm quite sad about it. Perhaps this will get better with time and practice? Only time will tell.

((Update 2/22/13--FINALLY replaced the pictures with better ones! Using a melon baller really helped the appearance of the truffles too.))

And-this blog is consuming my life. I'm pretty certain I spend more time doing stuff for this than I do acting most of the time, and don't get me started on the fact that when I'm forced with the dilemma of "Should I clean the kitchen today or do some blog stuff?"-well, let's just say that kitchen is in dire need of a good cleaning. I am not complaining though-I love this! Sure, whenever I talk to people I have exactly 3 topics of conversation (Michael, acting, and food), but...I think food is really interesting! So...yeah. Plus, it has gained me some respect from my super sexist father's side of the family (not exactly the reason I'd want behind respect but...eh whatever.)

Anyway-dark chocolate is healthy for you. It releases endorphins and is an antioxidant and...you know...I'm sure if you google it the internet will tell you many more wonderful things about why you're totally justified and being healthy if you eat like 20 of these dark chocolate truffles.

Whaaa? More Awards?!

Happy Sunday everybody!!
  

What an exciting week for this little blog! I have received two more awards (The Kreativ Blogger Award and The Sunshine Award) from Spring of a Curiouseed. She has an amazing, vegetarian, blog, full of lots of great writing! You should definitely check her out!

For both of these awards the requirements are to link back to the person who nominated you, answer the following questions, and nominate fellow bloggers--link to them in your blog post and comment on their blogs letting them know! :)

Growing Scallions

I'm assuming you all know about Pinterest. If not-you've been hiding under a computer rock-no judgement! :P Anyway, whilst perusing Pinterest and pinning things to my boards, I have found some wonderful, wonderful things! Including--how to grow your own scallions at home-using nothing but the leftover bulbs and some water (I saw multiple postings on this, so no specific link back to give you. You can google it if you'd like). Due to my small NYC apartment conditions, this made me excited. After using scallions for some recipes (including the Cheddar, Asiago, and Scallion Beer Bread) I kept the bottoms of the onions-the white bulb and a little of the above greenness. Here are the easy steps.

Awards!

 

One of my new food blogger friends, Addicted to Recipes, has nominated me for The Versatile Blogger Award!! This is my first blogging award and I am very very honored and pleased :)

((I have now also been nominated by Cook Bake Share and Feed Your Soul! Def. check these gentlemen out! Thanks so much!!!))

So, what is the Versatile Blogger Award?  "It is a great way to introduce different bloggers to each other and to promote quality blogs that awardees and their readers may not have discovered otherwise."

Browned Butter Dark Chocolate and Marshmallow Cookies-Cookie Wars 2012!

You remember how I told you guys about Baker Bettie's Cookies Are The New Cupcake? She's taken it to the next level!! I'm not sure if you're familiar with The Food Network show "Cupcake Wars", but Baker Bettie is hosting "Cookie Wars"!!! The requirements are that it must be an original recipe (although the base can be adapted), and it must have at least 2 of the following ingredients:

Garlic Chicken

I have a little comfort and familiarity for you today, because you need it. And you deserve it.

Chicken- it's been awhile since I've posted a chicken recipe. And here it is. Delicious, moist, garlic-y chicken. Classic Cooking Actress, right? Right!

I'm super sleepy, y'all. I've been busy lately. Not only with work (which was super busy because of St. Patrick's Day)-but I've also had a lot of acting stuff going on. I filmed a commercial, a guest spot on a web series, have continually been filming my one show Rock-Star Cafe, in a couple weeks I'm heading to Maryland to continue the short film that never ends (:P), and in about a month I'll be heading to Maine for a film festival/the world premier of my movie, You Can't Kill Stephen King. I feel like I barely have time to keep up with my housewifey duties and blogging! It's insanity! I'm not complaining, just sleepy. :) 

Garlic Chicken

Adapted from A Hint of Honey

Pierogi Casserole

 I'm Catholic-and I celebrate Lent. Today is Friday and, for once, I'm actually trying to be good and not eat meat on Fridays. So, I figured, if you're doing then Lenten thing as well-I'd share a non-carnivorous recipe today. (I apologize for the awful photos, still trying to use up all the ones from my old camera).
And...well, I'm super busy this week, so that's all I've got. Not to mention the poor boyfriend is sick this week :( The sight of food isn't exactly good for him-cross your fingers I don't catch it! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and enjoy this cheesy, potato-y, nummy casserole!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

I don't know if you've noticed but...

I love cookies. 

Like...I really love them.

More than one person has dubbed me a "cookie monster".

Don't get me wrong-I love many desserts! But there's something about cookies...Michael mocks the huge reserve I have of cookie recipes, that I'm just waiting to make.

One of my favorite bloggers that I've recently started following is Baker Bettie. She's amazing-she has a great 50's flair topped with gorgeous photos and a real, scientific knowledge of food-especially cookies! Since cookies are sort of her specialty, she started a new series "Cookies Are The New Cupcake":

Cupcakes get all the attention, cupcakes get all the love. Baker Bettie is saying it's cookies' turn! Again, I like cupcakes-quite a lot! However...I eat cupcakes probably a few times a year...cookies are a much more frequent occurrence (we don't need to say how often...). I've already been lucky enough to be featured on her Sunday "Cookies Are The New Cupcake from the Readers Edition" with my Butter-less Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. But, I had to share more cookies! And I had to let you all know about this amazing series.

Left--"fluffy" Right--finished dough.

Anyway-back to these cookies. I made them right before Christmas time-and fell in love! They are thick, chewy, and rich! A large peanut butter chocolate cookie full of pieces of Reese's peanut butter cups. Um, hello heaven? They taste like the amazing cookies that you buy at a bakery and are convinced you could never make at home. But you can!! These were, in fact, inspired by some amazing cookies Annie from Annie's Eats enjoyed while on a trip in Vermont. She was so haunted by these amazing cookies that she set to task recreating them. I never had those original cookies, of course, but these are some of the best cookies that I have had the pleasure of making. They're also super satisfying-one cookie makes you feel complete. Michael loved these, I loved these, and the mean lady on the bus back to Ohio probably loved that 1/2 of the cookie she pretty much forced me to give her....but...that's a different story. Anyway! ME LOVE COOKIES! YOU SHOULD EAT COOKIES RIGHT NOW! (that's my cookie monster impression...get it?...I'm weird...)

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

Hello there! Happy Sunday. 

I have some breakfast for you...or maybe dessert?

I usually try to be healthy with my breakfasts because-you know-most important meal and all that. And to be honest, I almost never ate these muffins for breakfast. They were like a fluffy, rich, wonderful little treat. I was actually working a very long promotion when I made these, and I'd wrap them in tin foil, bring them with me, and eat them on breaks. They hit the spot :) These have such a phenomenal flavor, and a wonderful texture, I'm really surprised you haven't started making these yet. Really, what's taking you so long? Get to it!

Eatable Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

THAT'S IT! I CAN'T WAIT ANYMORE!

I CANNOT WAIT ONE MORE DAY BEFORE I SHARE THIS RECIPE WITH YOU!

Cookie dough. Wonderful, delicious, chocolate chip cookie dough-that is for the sole purpose of eating. This dough has no desire to be baked-its entire reason for being is just for you to eat it in its perfect, dough, state. AND-even though I have tempted salmonella on multiple occasions by eating regular cookie dough-this is safe. No eggs. No worry about dying (not that I worry...but Michael is oddly concerned). And it tastes exactly the same. You cannot tell the difference. It only dirties one bowl (especially if, like me, you totally just attack it with the spatula you used to mix it right from that bowl). Another perk-you can totally tailor it for how you like your dough. More into a thick cookie dough? Use less water. You don't like to eat chocolate chips in the dough? Don't put them in! Want to mix something else up in there? GO RIGHT AHEAD! I probably make this more often than is healthy. But...c'mon....it's cookie dough.

The Cooking Actress Facebook Page

I finally created a Cooking Actress FB page! So go on over there and "like" it!

http://www.facebook.com/TheCookingActress

((I also gave the blog a little facelift-what do you think?))

Oreo's 100th Birthday

In honor of this yummy cookie's birthday, enjoy a few recipes that utilize the Oreo.

Triple Layer Oreo Bars

Oreo Balls a la Kayle

Raspberry Cake-Pie (with Oreo crust)

Super Chocolate Oreo Crunch Brownies

Chicken Parmesan Bake

It has come to my realization that it's been a little while since I shared an entree. Apologies. Since I'm still trying to get through all the recipes with photos I took with my old camera, this little beauty is what I decided to tell you all about. As most of us know, Chicken Parmesan can be very unhealthy (fried, globs of mozzarella...etc). This recipe presents a healthier solution-and in a fun, casserole kind of way! The croutons here mimic the crunchiness of the fried chicken, and using both Parmesan and shredded mozzarella brings down the calorie count. The first night I made this Michael and I were just so enamored with it, it was delicious! Word of advice though-it definitely loses something when it's leftover. It was very hard to finish. I probably wouldn't make this again unless I had a whole group of people to feed. If you have children, though, you should be good-it really is ridiculously tasty fresh! Enough jibber jabber, now, on to the recipe:

Whole Wheat Rolls-2 Ways (Regular, and Garlic Knot)

You know what's funny? 

I used to be terrified, overwhelmingly nervous, at the thought of using yeast.

I'd never had any interactions with yeast, and from what I could tell-it seemed rather temperamental. 

But now?

I use it, like, at least once a week (usually to make pizza dough-which will be shared with you eventually).

These rolls were not my first venture into yeast. I had already made other rolls and pizza dough by this point. But, they were my first time using whole wheat flour in a baked good. It was a garlic knots recipe, using whole wheat flour, that seemed pretty healthy and straightforward. So, I made them. And then promptly remembered I'm not particularly in love with garlic knots. But the basis of the knots themselves...was really delicious, super fluffy yet hearty. Michael tried them, he had the same feeling about the garlic knots, but he said, "You know what? These would be really good as just rolls. Like....really good." I responded, "I know, right!!" I was so happy he felt the same way I did. Not too long after this, I made the recipe again. But, I tweaked it to form rolls (instead of knots) and without putting the garlic butter on at the end. Included in this post I have both ways, so you can choose whether you want whole wheat rolls or whole wheat garlic knots. Go crazy! And, feel a little less guilty about it.