cook's profile


MI$$DREA
 
Home Town:
Living In: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Member Since: Oct. 2006
Cooking Level: Intermediate
Cooking Interests: Stir Frying, Slow Cooking, Asian, Mexican, Indian, Italian, Southern, Gourmet
Hobbies: Gardening, Camping, Boating, Reading Books, Music, Wine Tasting
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Sep. 15, 2010 10:58 am 
Updated: Sep. 16, 2010 7:17 am
Hi everyone! I have been keeping myself busy lately with the bounty of my garden. My tomatoes actually decided to turn red this year so I figured it was about time I teach myself to can. Yay! The purpose of this blog is to keep a record for my own safe keeping, get ideas and tips for future… MORE
"x" for easier peeling
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This was half the amount I canned
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Water bath with stewing pot in the background
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My first canned anything!!!
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My first canned anything!!!
Water bath with stewing pot in the background
This was half the amount I canned
"x" for easier peeling
Water bath with tomato stewing pot in background)
About this Cook
I am a 31 year old military wife. I grew up in a cooking household but I started to really get into cooking when I met my husband 8 years ago. I worked in a wine bar for several years so of course i learned a great deal about food and wine pairing and wine tasting. A fun job for a twenty something city girl who loved to party with her girlfriends. After I got married in 2006 I decided to try my hand at the whole domestic thing so I nannied for my nephew for almost a year. I plan on being a stay at home mom, so this was great practice for me. My husband and I just recently bought our very own house and we are completely consumed in making it a home that we can raise a family in. My sister and I share a lakehouse we inherited from our dad in central Wisconsin and my family and friends enjoy spending weekends during the summer there. Lots of fun water sports and a great time for a quick vacation. I love to try new food and cooking allows me to do just that.
My favorite things to cook
I love Thai, Indian, Mexican, Southern, you name it. I also use my slow cooker at least once a week. I enjoy learning to cook new things and am really interested in family recipes. I already have several from my husband's side of the family as well. I like to cook from scratch whenever possible to save money on groceries. I am teaching myself to bake(slowly. I have very little experience with it and my husband and I dont have huge sweet tooths so I dont want to end up throwing everything out!)Cookies dont count. They never get thrown out in our house.
My favorite family cooking traditions
I really enjoy making authentic Mexican dishes such as Mexican rice, fideo, enchiladas, and cactus with pork and tomatillos. I learned from watching my mother, grandmother, and great aunts growing up. My grandma just taught me how to make tamales and we had a great bonding experience with it. I would really love to learn some more authentic Irish dishes from my husband's side of the family.
My cooking triumphs
When I made my first red curry paste I was very proud of myself. It wasn't hard, I just grew up without ever seeing anyone make it so I never thought to make it.
My cooking tragedies
I once made a lasagna for my mother's birthday and forgot to pour sauce in the bottom of the pan before the first layer and the noodles stuck to the bottom of the pan. It was so embarassing. Won't make that mistake again!
Recipe Reviews 512 reviews
Horseradish Pork Chops
I greased a broiling pan and used that instead of the baking dish. I also baked at 350 for 35 mins then broiled as suggested. The top crisped up nicely but the bottom was soggy. I want to try these again because of ease of preparation. Think next time I will only spread half the topping on top side, bake, flip and spread the other side with remaining topping and continue baking. Then broil each side a few mins. I bet crushed up stuffing mix would add even more flavor. Served with baked mac and cheese and green beans with corn and dill butter. Great use of some homemade breadcrumbs from the freezer.

0 users found this review helpful
Reviewed On: May 25, 2012
Classic Cuban Midnight (Medianoche) Sandwich
Delicious. Had some extra buns to use. Nice weekday dinner. Served with watermelon and coleslaw. Will make again!

0 users found this review helpful
Reviewed On: May 22, 2012
Smothered Pork
This was easy and economical. A great base recipe to make your own. I seasoned my chops well and browned them, placed in bottom of slow cooker, mixed 1 can cream of mushroom, minced garlic, 1/2 an envelope of dried onion soup mix, about 1/4 c white wine, and 1 can of mushrooms. Then poured over the chops. I cooked this on low 6 hours and it was perfect. Finished it off with a little sour cream to help cut the salt. Served with pasta. Definitely not gourmet but a good pantry/ freezer meal when you don't feel much like cooking and are low on groceries.

1 user found this review helpful
Reviewed On: Apr. 29, 2012
 
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