#26 DZP: Cook a Prime Rib Roast

#26 DZP: Cook a Prime Rib Roast

 

Now this was originally the Mr's recipe he wanted to do. So he did buy the roast and he butchered it, but he had to work late and I really didn't want this roast to go to waste. So he helped me (more like coached me) and I cooked it!

 

Using Iron Chef Michael Symon's recipe we read in our Food Network magazine, I was able to cook it and it was great! The house smelled amazing and not going to lie: I was super pleased with myself!

 

 

Prime Rib

Recipe Adapted from Michael Symon from Food Network

(Note: Total time is 4 hours, not including overnight refrigeration)

 

Ingredients:

• 1 4-bone prime rib, bones and excess fat removed and reserved
• 4 teaspoons kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 4 cloves garlic, unpeeled, smashed
• 4 ounces arugula (optional)
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil (optional)

Directions:

1. Liberally season the prime rib with the salt and some pepper and refrigerate overnight.
2. An hour before cooking, remove the roast from the refrigerator to allow it to come to room temperature.
3. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
4. Put the reserved ribs in a roasting pan bowed-side up (the ribs will be acting as the roasting rack). Scatter any fat and meat trimmings in the pan around the bones. Roast the bones and trimmings for about 30 minutes, or until the fat starts to render.
5. Remove the pan from the oven, put the rosemary sprigs on top of the bones, then top with the prime rib. Put the smashed garlic in the bottom of the pan with the trimmings. Baste the beef with the fat drippings and return the pan to the oven.
6. Cook for 30 minutes and then baste the roast again.
7. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and cook until the meat is medium rare (an internal temperature of 125 degrees F to 130 degrees F), about 1 hour, 15 minutes, basting the roast every 30 minutes until it is done. Keep in mind that the roast will continue to cook while resting.
8. Remove the roast from the oven and put it on a cutting board to rest, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Slice the prime rib to the desired thickness and garnish with the arugula and olive oil.

#5 DZP: Transform a recipe to your own - Lemon Gooey Butter Cookies

Who doesn't love a soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookie? Really, who doesn't?!

Last week I found a Paula Deen recipe called Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies. It was an awesome cookie all around. Easy to bake and definitely easy to eat. Because of the ingredients, it's like eating cake, but so very much a cookie.

So why not try LEMON! Oh Ya!

Note: the picture is not my proudest one, but they flew out the door like hot cakes, so I had to stop a coworker so I can at least take a snap shot!

Lemon Gooey Butter Cookies

Recipe Slighty Adapted from Paula Deen

Ingredients:

½ cups Butter (1 Stick), Softened/Room Temp

8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese, Softened/Room Temp

1 whole Large Egg

1 teaspoon Lemon Extract (or Juice from 1 Large Lemon)

1 whole Large Lemon, Zest Grated

1 package (18.25 Oz. Size) Lemonade Flavor Cake Mix

Granulated Sugar, For Rolling

Confectioners Sugar, For Dusting

Directions:

1. Mix the cream cheese and butter until mixture is smooth. Beat in the egg, lemon extract/juice and lemon zest until combined. Add the cake mix and beat just until mixed.
2. The dough is too sticky to roll into balls, so cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for 1-2 hours.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 F.While that's warming up, take out covered bowl from refrigerator.
4. Place some granulated sugar into a separate bowl or plate. Scoop out dough into 1-inch to 1 1/4-inch balls. Drop each dough ball into a plate of granulated sugar and roll it in the sugar to coat completely.  
5. Place the dough balls 2″ apart on ungreased/parchment paper covered cookie sheets; flatten slightly. Bake at 350 F for 12 minutes. DO NOT overbake. Take the cookies out of the oven when they look a little underdone.
6. Let the cookies cool on the pan for 1-2 minutes, then remove them from the pans to wire racks and cool completely.  
7. *Optional* Dust with confectioners sugar

Store the cookies in an airtight container. Makes about 2 1/2-3 dozen.

#22 DZP: Eat my first Macaron!

 

#22 DZP: Eat my first French Macaron!

It was my Mom's birthday on December 5th. But she was on "expedition adventure" down at Antarctica. But we waited for her return to carry on our tradition of enjoy birthday dinner at the Melting Pot, just us two! (since 2008!)

Just before we went in, I remembered a small, adorable bakery that's just a little walk from the restaurant. We had time so we popped in to see what Merely Sweets had.

I knew they had macarons and cupcakes, but I wasn't expecting the number of flavors! Needless to say, my Mother and I took a dozen and I believe we got every flavor:

They're light, sweet, and really delicious! I'll have to control myself because I could eat them all right now. I split them with my Mom: birthday treat for her & goal complete for me! YAY!

I will spare everyone a picture of me eating (& throughly enjoying) a macaron. No need for that!

Now I don't know if you've seen the Macaron Trees online or through Pinterest, but they look amazing. And at Merely's they have a tree guide for their customers:

 

Shout out to Merely Sweets! They were BOMB!

Thirsty Thursday: Red Melon

OK! Magazine's Drink of the Week: RED MELON!

 

Good Karma is In

 

 

I love feel-good Karma stories.

 

I'd like to share my Karma story.

 

It just happened recently. Like an hour ago.

 

I was shopping at Target (yes, I'm obsessed) and when I was returning to my car, an older woman came up to me telling me her story of her daughter going into labor, she had no money for gas to get to the hospital and if I could spare any change.

 

I'm not one to give money... I'm not proud of that either. I hardly carry cash though. Today I actually got $5 from a coworker to get her a Starbucks drink (yes, we're obsessed). But something in me dug in my back pocket and pulled out what cash I had. Call it the Christmas spirit, or the fact that I really wanted this lady to try to get to her daughter, but I'll have you know that woman is $5 richer. It's not much but it's what I had.

 

It wasn't a big deal to me, but I'm glad she had a brief smile on her face as I returned to my car.

 

Skip some time and I'm shopping online for PJ's at Victoria's Secret. A couple months ago I received one of their Secret Rewards cards, and I actually remembered to use it this time! For those cards you can have a chance to have $10, $50, $100, or $500 off your next purchase at VSecret. So as I'm checking out online, I typed in my card code & pin, and what-do-you-know: I got $100 bucks off! I'm beyond stoked!

 

 



I feel extremely lucky, but more importantly: Blessed. It makes me think how many people I see begging for money or food. It makes me think twice if I could really help them. It makes me think how much I have, and how much I can give to others in need. Let's just say the Christmas spirit is all around... and should stick around all year.

Karma was good to me, and I'll try not to disappoint her anymore.

#98 DZP A-Z Movies

#98 DZP: Watch 26 movies I've never seen starting with each letter of the Alphabet

 

I did it, I finally finished. I don't watch movies all the time (Ryan won't sit through them and some he just should NOT watch) but I finally finished this goal. Some are old and some opened this year, but I did it. Done.

 

 

A - Avatar

B - the Blind Side

C - Cleaner

D - the Day After Tomorow

E - Eclipse

F - the Fighter

G - Get Him to the Greek

H - He's Just Not That Into You

I - Inception

J - Julia & Julie

K - Knight & Day

L - the Last Song

M - My Sister's Keeper

N - No Strings Attached

O - Old Dogs

P - the Proposal

Q - Quantum of Solace

R - Reel Steel

S - Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

T - the Town

U - the Ugly Truth

V - the Vow

W - WALL-E

X - XXX (Triple X)

Y - Yes Man

Z - Zookeeper

S'mores Bars

These just look so good to eat all in one seating!

S'mores Bars
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home

Prep Time: 20 min. Bake: 25 min. + cooling
Yield: 18 Servings

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

5 milk chocolate candy bars (1.55 ounces each)

1 cup marshmallow creme

 

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Set aside 1/2 cup for topping.

 

2. Press remaining mixture into a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Place candy bars over crust; spread with marshmallow creme. Crumble remaining graham cracker mixture over top.

 

3. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 1-1/2 dozen.

 

Nutritional Facts: 1 bar equals 213 calories, 9 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 28 mg cholesterol, 114 mg sodium, 30 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 3 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat.

Friday Finds: Fun Bandages!

Best.

Bandages.

Ever.

 

 

 These are WAY cooler than regular brown/clear bandages. You're not going to find these babies in the drug store... Nope! I found all these at Urban Outfitters. Adult versions, but don't worry... I still rock my Hello Kitty bandages. And actually Miss Erin got me the Sh*t Happens bandages!

 

 

So go out there, stub a toe, and blame it on your ninja fight!

#32 DZP: Complete the 10 iPhone Photo Challenge

#32 DZP Goal: Complete the 10 iPhone Photo Challenge

  

Back on the last post on my Pinterest find: A Beautiful Mess, I want to attempt to complete the 10 iPhone Photo Challenge, & I'm happy to say I was successful! Let's have a look shall we...

 

1. Use a blur effect

I know it's hard to see, but I used the blur-circle tool on Instagram to help with this one.

PS: Ryan loves nanas.

 

2. Play with sun flares

While babysitting Ryan & his new cousin Austin, we played outside on a beautiful morning, and the sun was perfect for a quick sun-flare-pic!

 

3. Use two filters to create a unique style of editing

I love hanging out with Ryan before "nite-nite" time.

I used "twinkle" & (I think) "Melissa" filters off the Pixlromatic App.

 

4. Use a timer for a self portrait

I was cleaning that massive pot behind me after Ryan's Baptism party, and I was a dumb-butt and didn't think about all the soot from the bottom of the pot... then I touched the other hand... then I wiped my eye/face... and this is what I ended up with!

So I took the opportunity to take my self portrait, using the timer on the Camera+ App!

 

5. Take on the challenge of taking 10 photos throughout the day

I only remember that it was a Tuesday, but which one, no clue. My bad.

Lots of Starbucks, Ryan, colorguard, traffic, and cold weather.

 

6. Try taking a silhouette

Funny story: I could hardly ever get the right lighting for this, so it was fairly difficult to do.

Oh but this picture is the closest I got, and it was taken in (drum-roll-please)

....the office women's bathroom! Yes! I did!

Then I took the picture through the Camera+ App and "Darken" the picture a little bit more.

 

7. Create a filter with your sunglasses

Left picture is with my Coach glasses, and the Right picture is without.

Not a huge difference, but noticable.

 

 8. Add fonts to your photo.

I've heard that it's usually "No-Pants-Friday", but this particular day was "Track-Suit-Friday"!!

It was raining, and too cold to run around with no pants, so I decided track suit it is!

For the font I used the Phonto App.

 

9. Make a collage

This wasn't hard, because I make collages using the Diptic or PicFrame app.

But this one is special to me, because it was the first time Ryan "met" my Auntie Debbie and Grandpa Bob.

 

10. Create a message

It's simple but sweet! Aloha & Mahalo everyone!

 

 



Thirsty Thursday: Strawberry Thyme Agua Fresca

 

I love strawberries, and I doubt that will ever change.

I love agua frescas too, and I doubt that will change either.

But you add THYME in the mix, and that's just pure foodie genius!

Strawberry Thyme Agua Fresca
(recipe from Matt Bites, picture from Eat Drink Pretty)

Thyme Simple Syrup

1/2 cup loosely packed thyme sprigs
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 water

Bring the water and sugar to a boil and then add the thyme. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Strain and remove the thyme.

For the Drink:

4 cups of fresh or frozen strawberries with 2-4 cups of water to blend
8-10 cups of water

Puree the fruit and water in batches and then strain to remove any seeds or pulp. You can use a fine sieve or cheesecloth and you’ll want to get as much solids out of the liquid. Add the simple syrup to the strained liquid and then dilute with 8 to 10 cups of water. At this point you can adjust the sugar and water levels to your liking. Serve over plenty of ice and enjoy immediately.

Word of the Day 12/5/2012

Connive (verb)

1: to pretend ignorance of or fail to take action against something one ought to oppose

2a : to be indulgent or in secret sympathy : wink b : to cooperate secretly or have a secret understanding

3: to engage in secret scheming : conspire

Examples: He is not above conniving against his own co-workers if he thinks it will benefit his own career.

"Families fare badly in Western drama. Oedipus kills his father, Lear's daughters connive against one another, and Ibsen's Nora walks out on her husband and their three young children." — From a theater review by Steven G. Kellman in Current (San Antonio), August 22–28, 2012

Did You Know?: "Connive" may not seem like a troublesome term, but it was to Wilson Follett, a usage critic who lamented that the word "was undone during the Second World War, when restless spirits felt the need of a new synonym for plotting, bribing, spying, conspiring, engineering a coup, preparing a secret attack." Follett thought "connive" should only mean "to wink at" or "to pretend ignorance." Those senses are closer to the Latin ancestor of the word ("connive" comes from the Latin "connivēre," which means "to close the eyes" and which is descended from "-nivēre," a form akin to the Latin verb "nictare," meaning "to wink"). But many English speakers disagreed, and the "conspire" sense is now the word's most widely used meaning.

 

#100 Word of the Day!

Word of the Day 12/4/2012

Campestral (adjective): of or relating to fields or open country : rural

 

Examples: "Santiago's proximity to ski resorts, beach resorts, and the idyllic countryside, with its campestral and ranching traditions and colonial estates, offer plenty for the traveler to see and do." — From Frommer’s Chile and Easter Island, 2011

"Just about any amateur naturalist who pays attention to the birds, beasts, flowers and seasons in campestral Maine will find an eye-opener or two here." — From a book review by Dana Wilde in the Bangor (Maine) Daily News, October 26, 2009

Did You Know?: Scamper across an open field, then, while catching your breath, ponder this: "scamper" and "campestral" both ultimately derive from the Latin noun "campus," meaning "field" or "plain." Latin "campester" is the adjective that means "pertaining to a campus." In ancient Rome, a campus was a place for games, athletic practice, and military drills. "Scamper" probably started with a military association, as well (it is assumed to have evolved from the Latin verb "excampare," meaning "to decamp"). In English, "campestral" took on an exclusively rural aspect upon its introduction in the 18th century, while "campus," you might say, became strictly academic.

Word of the Day 12/3/2012

Hotdog (verb): to perform in a conspicuous or often ostentatious manner; especially : to perform fancy stunts and maneuvers (as while surfing or skiing)

Examples: The wide receiver hotdogged in the end zone after catching the touchdown pass.

"Benson hotdogged with her usual flair..." — From Matt Warshaw's 2010 book The History of Surfing

Did You Know?: The verb "hotdog" first appeared in the 1960s as slang for surfing with fast turns and quick movements. Surfers adopted it from the use of the noun "hot dog" for someone who is very good at something, which was popularized around the turn of the 19th century along with the interjection "hot dog" to express approval or gratification. In time, the noun became mainly associated with people who showed off their skills in sports, from basketball to skiing, and the verb form came to be used for the spectacular acts of these show-offs. (As a side tidbit to chew on, the word for the frankfurter that might be eaten while watching athletes perform is believed to have been first used by college students. That "hot dog" was current at Yale in 1895.)