Cooking Dinner Outside the Daily Grind

Normally I really enjoy cooking and baking, but during the school year, after a long day at work, it can become just one more thing on my checklist of things to do before I hit the pillow.  One thing I really enjoy about the summer months is being able to take my time in the kitchen, try new things, while not feeling the pressure of a million other things that need my attention as well. 

Here are some recent attempts: 

 I was making us some pulled barbecue pork when I realized I didn't get any rolls for Shane. I really did not feel like going back to the grocery store in the rain-and I figured I could just make some homemade with ingredients I already had. 

Surprisingly (or not with my gluten allergy) I have never made homemade bread (other than banana bread or zucchini bread, but that doesn't really count), so this was a risk-but what did I have to lose : )  

 The finished dough

 "proofing" 

 proofing again.....

 I worked on the other components of the meal, while the dough took its time

 Corn on the Cob in the summer...nothing like it. 

 Garlic and Parmesan roasted red potatoes

 And the finished product! It is so hard not to be able to taste test what you have made, but Shane gave them full approval, so I'll trust him that it was a success : ) 

 On the airplane home from San Diego I picked up some good reading material to keep me busy : ) 

 Who knew you could find a good burger recipe in a Home decorating magazine! This half lamb and beef burger with white cheddar cheese and parsley butter on an english muffin looked sooooo goood!!!!

 Okay...I may have forgotten to rotate these pictures...whoops. 

Here are two more recipes I stole from Cooking Light: A Chicken and Bean Burrito and a Pineapple Sundae! I made the Burritos for dinner one night with a side of corn and homemade Guacamole-Other than the little bit of monterey jack cheese and the flour tortilla for Shane-it was a healthy meal and very flavorful. 

 Here are some of my ingredients for the Burger. 

*Changes: no Ground Lamb (maybe next time) and gluten free English Muffins (they pale in comparison to Thomas's. . . oh well)

 Here is the spread that goes on each half of the English Muffin-Butter, Garlic, Parsley, and Shallots

 Split and ready for toasting

 Finished Product with leftover potatoes- I'm not gonna lie-they were good. 

 Pineapple Sundae-easy and so good! 

 Chopped Fresh Pineapple

 Add pineapple to mixture of fresh orange juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and ginger. 

Place Pineapple on foil covered cookie sheet under broil for 6-8 minutes. 

When bubbly take them out and top your ice cream. Okay...the original "healthy"recipe calls for frozen yogurt, but there is nothing like good vanilla bean ice cream : )

Okay...I'm actually getting hungry! 

Glad I was able to get some fun experimenting done before more travel and packing that will ensue. 

-M.W.