cook's profile


Alyssa
 
Home Town: Le Center, Minnesota, USA
Member Since: Sep. 2007
Cooking Level: Intermediate
Cooking Interests: Baking, Slow Cooking, Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean, Healthy, Dessert, Quick & Easy
Hobbies: Scrapbooking, Photography, Reading Books
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About this Cook
I recently moved to Sioux Falls, SD with my husband. I work part-time at a Credit Union so I have more time than I used to for cooking. My husband and I are both very adventerous when it comes to food. We love trying new recipes and restaurants, but we're also somewhat of health nuts, so I end up changing most recipes to make them healthier. Recently we've been trying to save money and grocery shop only once a month (aside from to occasional run for milk, bread, apples, etc.) so I've had to become very creative when it comes to some recipes.
My favorite things to cook
My love for cooking actually began with baking-- cookies, bars, cakes, pies, you name it. Around Christmas time I get together with my mom and spend a whole day baking boxes and and boxes of goodies! I really love making different egg dishes, appetizers and casseroles. We also eat alot of fish (mostly tilapia and salmon) so I've experimented alot with that.
My favorite family cooking traditions
My mom's side of the family is 100% Scandinavian, and my dad's is mostly Czech, so I grew up eating lefse & kolachkies. I'm trying to expand my knowledge of Scandinavian and Czech cooking. I recently mastered a wonderful recipe for a Swedish Almond Puff-- YUM!
My cooking triumphs
For my husband's 28th birthday two years ago, I threw him a party at our place, and made a whole buffet of appetizers-- marinated mushrooms, two different kinds of pinwheels, cocktail meatballs, little smokies wrapped w/ bacon, meats and cheeses, veggie tray, spinach dip, homemade pizza rolls, cookies & bars. It was ALOT of work, but all the compliments I recieved made it WELL worth it.
My cooking tragedies
Ohhhh I have had many. One that sticks out the most was when I was asked to bring a pie to my husband's side for Thanksgiving (then my boyfriend). I decided on an Apple Cranberry pie that I've been wanting to try. I made a practice one a couple days before and it turned out AWESOME. But the night before we were leaving, I made the pie to bring out there and the apples must have been more watery, and they seeped out the crust and the whole thing got SO soggy and looked HORRIBLE. In my agony & desperation, I drove 20 minutes to a 24-hour grocery store, bought more apples, went home and stayed up until 4 a.m. making another pie. Thankfully, it turned out much better and I got many compliments on it. I'm sure in 20 years I will look back on this story and laugh at myself for wanting to make such a good impression on my in-laws... haha.
Recipe Reviews 3 reviews
Magic Peanut Butter Middles
These were REALLY good. And I might be crazy, but I didn't think they were time-consuming or difficult at all. Prep took me about 20 minutes. I did make the filling first and refrigerated it while I made the dough (which I added a T. of milk to). I didn't even have to flour my hands to form the dough "patties". I will definitely make these again.

0 users found this review helpful
Reviewed On: Jan. 24, 2010
Blue Ribbon Caramel Apple Pie
I made this yesterday for my husband and I and it's already more than half gone! It was the EASIEST pie to make (of course, due to the canned pie filling) but it was soooo delicious I barely felt a smidge of guilt for not making it from scratch. I couldn't find the caramel squares at the store, so instead I substituted a small jar of caramel ice cream topping. Mixed with a teaspoon of milk and microwaved for 45 seconds (stopping to stir halfway through once) it turned out perfect. Probably more caramel than asked for, but soooooo ooey gooey and delicious! I will definitely make this again.

5 users found this review helpful
Reviewed On: Jan. 24, 2010
Egg-White Crepes
I made these last night and they were so easy and very yummy! I put in about a tablespoon of chocolate chips with the the mixed berries in the middle, and then topped the crepe with some reserved juice from the thawed-out berries. VERY GOOD! Also, I didn't use whole-wheat flour, as I didn't have any on hand, but all-purpose flour worked just fine.

32 users found this review helpful
Reviewed On: Feb. 6, 2008
 
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