Showing posts with label side. Show all posts
Showing posts with label side. Show all posts

Saturday, May 28, 2016

heirloom tomato & blackberry crostinis + $25 giveaway


Last week, I treated myself to an early Father’s Day gift (no, I’m not a father, yet, so goes my rational). And, I didn't even need to spend much time searching cause I knew exactly what I wanted was on UncommonGoods dot to the com. I literally ordered myself some socks and rocks (I’m not even joking), plus two soapstone appetizer platters and a shot glass set. Then I realized. What am I going to do with two (two!) soapstone appetizer platters and a soapstone shot glass set? I can’t even drink yet! Then I realized. What can’t I do with two soapstone appetizer platters and a shot glass set! I even rationalized my buying a "hiding-place rock" for top secret recipes (more on that later). This Father’s Day, treat dad to this beautiful Heirloom Tomato & Blackberry Crostini that's rich, refreshing, and so easy. And, don’t think I’m just writing this post to brag to y’all about my new haul. Keep reading below to learn how you can win a fresh-off-the-printing-press $25 UncommonGoods gift card (I haven’t forgot about y’all, my fellow incorrigible shopaholics)!


This post is divided into two sections: 1) Heirloom Tomato & Blackberry Crostini, and 2) $25 UncommonGoods Giveaway. Peppered throughout are my reviews of the four uncommon goods I got from UncommonGoods. You can check out the exact items I bought here. 


Sunday, January 10, 2016

rosemary roasted garlic focaccia



In these early weeks of the new year, blog posts webwide begin by paying homage to the New Year, or New Year’s resolutions, or some variation along those lines. So—in being unique—I won’t mention the New Year at all. Here at Chow Creations, we pride ourselves in being independent…wait a second. By acknowledging that other food bloggers acknowledge the New Year, haven’t I inadvertently began this post with an homage to the New Year. This column is beginning to sound a lot like the subpar metaphysical food blogging I confused readers with last year. AH HA! You fell for another one of my traps. I wanted you to think I didn’t want to begin this post by mentioning the New Year, when in fact I've been in control of this rambling the entire time. So how exactly does this all relate to focaccia? The receptionist at my asylum hands me focaccia to get me to stop talking to her. Ohhhhh Margaret...my New Year’s resolution is to see a psychiatrist.
 


Despite the exotic-sounding name, focaccia is deceptively simply to make. You won't even need a stand mixer to make this recipe. Although I've written the directions for the do-it-by-hand gal, if you’re not as strong as I am (cue the picture of my saggy biceps), follow along with the stand mixer’s specifications. Focaccia gets most of its flavor from the taste and quality of the olive oil you use. In addition to using the finest olive oil allowance-money can buy, I fry the rosemary and garlic in the olive oil (a quick and dirty trick to getting the most out of your most pungent ingredients) to amp up the flavornoids in focaccia flavor town. The result is a soft and crispy bread, packed with warm flavors of roasted rosemary and garlic. Beginning and advanced bread bakers will be delighted at this wonderfully easy and delicious treat!

Monday, August 3, 2015

carrot cauliflower corn slaw + honey mustard dressing



After a brief break from blogging, I'm back and punnier than ever. Since posting the chow creations' first ever video recipe a couple weeks ago, I've been purtey busy: I made a blue table, aced my sixth semester at college, and bought a fancy-shmancy strobe light, which only set me back $200. I'm still learning how to apply my newly found skills and equipment, so this post will be a test run on many fronts, especially the lighting. Forgive the lighting. 


You, like me, may be reading this with a mild case of the end-of-summer glooms. Well, gloom not my friends for this cauliflower slaw is the cure to all end-of summer ailments. In fact, this slaw is so easy and refreshing you'll be wondering why you waited this long to learn how to make it and why I waited so long to post it. The answer is simple. I'm a selfish lazy bastard. That's my problem, not yours. Rehashing the past is pointless. Going forward I promise I will be a good blogger, the type that posts every week with the reliability of heartburn after a jalapeno. 

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

scrambled eggs and tomato | a childhood favorite


Those of you who have scoured cookbooks and websites in search of a quick and easy recipe for the weekdays and nights, exposing yourself to computer viruses whilst scraping the dark underbelly of the internet, scour no more. Often times the best things in life are the simplest, case and point, the humble scrambled eggs and tomato. After reading the comments you guys left me on my social media (links in the sidebar), I learned that many of you also grew up eating this dish. Some of you suggested adding onions while others emphatically yelled "witchcraft" from their rooftops. While suggestions are encouraged they aren't necessary because today we're sticking with the crowd-pleaser. Passed on to my momma from her dad and generations before him, this dish needs no accoutrements or augmentations. Remember, the simplest things are often the best. 



While I'll admit it was difficult to shoot this dish because of it's somewhat brain-like features, the poorly taken photography in no way degrades the deliciousness of the recipe. Because this is so easy to make and can be achieved with only basic refrigerator staples, this is a dish you can prepare whenever you want in whatever mental state you're in. On a completely unrelated note, this is the perfect hangover food. I know this not by experience so one need not call the Center for Underaged Drinking. My point is nostalgia can be had by you whenever you'd like in less than five minutes. Cheers!

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

fire roasted pepper salsa - {fire}sta time!


No, no you don't need a blowtorch for this recipe. The truth is, if you have a couple veggies and a stove, you've got everything you need to make this bright & delicious spring dip! This salsa is perfect for parties and potlucks. And the best part is you can make this hours, even days in advance and it'll be perfect, maybe even better as I'll explain later. 


Roasting the peppers and the tomatoes (and even the limes) not only gives this salsa a better texture, but it makes it sweet and fruity. I know fruity is a weird adjective to describe salsa, but it's all my sleep deprived mind can produce. Get it. Produce. As in fruits and vegetables. Okay, now I'm just freestyling. Combined with the acidity of the limes and the spiciness of the jalapenos, I haven't found a salsa that is more balanced or delicious than this one. Chowtinue reading for the directions and recipe!

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

roasted garlic fondant potatoes w/ homemade mustard aioli


What is a Fondant Potato? Fondant potatoes are potatoes that are trimmed into the shape of eggs, fried in butter, and then baked. I made mine into the shape of, what I like to call, half of a potato. French cuisine purists, this is where you stop reading. For the rest of you, this new/old potato cooking technique is a tasty and unique way of serving potatoes at the dinner table, while avoiding the commonly mashed, boiled, and baked culprits.  



Traditional fondant potatoes are served plain as a side dish, but, I wanted to put the ol' Chow Creations' spin on the thing and make a homemade mustard aioli to dip them in. My inspiration for this dip is the Spanish dish, Patatas Bravas, which are fried potatoes served with a Tomato Aioli. I thought, though, that a tomato aioli would be too safe, and the combination between garlic and mustard would be perfect to cut through that rich garlicky potato. I'll explain what an aioli is below and how you can turn this delicious side dish into a killer Superbowl Party hors d'oeuvre. Chowtinue Reading. 


Friday, July 18, 2014

simple potato salad + bacon + onion


Summer is passing by like a bullet train, but there's still time to have that barbeque or picnic you've been talking about since winter. This week I'm going to show you one of the easiest, most delicious side dishes that's going to knock everyone's socks off at the next shindig. 


Everyone has their go to potato salad recipe, however few of them are tasty, even less cook their potatoes right, and only one is as simple and delicious is this one. This my friends, is one of the easiest, make-ahead, delicious potato salads there is on the market. I'm talking about perfectly seasoned Al dente chunks of potato lightly coated in mayo and bacon drippings and simply folded with crispy bacon, caramelized onions, and spicy green onions. Plus, what makes this dish so great is that I'm sure all of you have the ingredients to make it right now!


Saturday, May 24, 2014

spicy asian cucumber salad - sweet | cool | spicy


If there was only one thing I would want people to remember about my momma, it would be that she is an amazing cook. Okay...she's also kind, and funny, and all these other things, but really, people don't come over for the jokes, they come over for the food (sorry momma). And this is one of the "secret" dishes that drives droves of hungry folk through our dinky paint-scraped doors every weekend. 


This spicy cucumber salad is the perfect side dish and accompaniment to...everything. Spicy, crunchy, sweet, refreshing, and probably best of all, it takes 5 minutes max to make. 

Sunday, May 18, 2014

marrow on toast - rich and unctuous


You know you wish you were here. And if you don't, then you're a party sucker and should rethink your entire life. Marrow on toast is such a classic preparation of this rich and unctuous treat. Not only that but I soak my toast with the rendered marrow fat so we get the maximum amount of beefy fatty goodness.