EXCLUSIVE!

Ok...I know.





I haven't been doing any real cooking lately.





I *need* to get my recipe binder organized. And my 2 new recipe boxes!

Here is one.

So instead of actually cooking anything, I am going to write a review!

I'm not sure if this has been said on here or not, but I work for Arby's. As such, I know when we have new sandwiches coming out.

Next Monday, my area Arby's restaurants have 3 new sandwiches coming out. We had training on them yesterday and I tried 2 of them (more on the third later).

The first sandwich is our GYRO. Gyros are Greek and normally made with lamb. Our sandwich is made with beef obviously.

The base is a pita bread like normal. It gets heated up. Then we will put on a "gyro sauce" which I believe is cucumber in base.

Then it gets 3 onion rings (raw), 2 tomatoes, shredded lettuce, 2 and a half ounces of beef and gyro seasoning.

I tried this one and I really like it. We used to have a gyro but it was more spicy. It had pepper-jack cheese and a jalopeno sauce on it. I liked that one more, but this new gyro is also a winner and I think it will be popular.

Next we have 2 new sandwiches on sourdough.

This first one, called a Patty Melt, is made with beef. Both pieces of bread get toasted on both sides. It has 1000 Island dressing (like our Ruban sandwiches), 1 piece of Swiss (processed, not the kind with holes), a seasoning we normally put on our Roastburgers (Chargrill seasoning), 2 and a half ounces of beef and a garlic butter/diced onion mixture, plus more 1000 Island (some on each piece).

I did not try this. I don't like 1000 Island dressing. BUT! I did try a piece of toasted sourdough, plus the garlic butter/onion mixture. THAT is very good. Of course, you can't have that, but let me tell you, the garlic butter is good.

Next we have the Chicken Melt. It is also on sourdough (toasted on both sides again). This has a parmesan ranch sauce (on both sides), 3 (raw) onion rings, shredded lettuce and 2 and a half ounces of roast chicken.

I sorta tried this. I don't normally like our roast chicken. I did try this sandwich with beef instead. I liked it, it was alright. I don't normally like our sourdough, so I'm not in love with it.

The parmesan ranch is really good. I like parmesan and I like ranch, so I like them together!

So my thoughts? I love the Gyro and will probably eat it frequently (can't beat free food!). Then I will have the Patty Melt, but changing the 1000 island sauce to the Parmesan Ranch.

And if I don't want any of those I will just toast a piece of bread and put the garlic butter on it!

Ok, so be sure to be on the look out for these new sandwiches! Of course, you may not even get them! I know of some other Arby's in other locations that haven't gotten food or special drinks that we have.

But if you like in the southern Ohio/northern Kentucky region, you will probably have these 3 new sandwiches next Monday!

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of these new sandwiches. And let me know if you try them when you get them!

Recipe Rewind- Blue Blueberry Muffins.

It's been a while since I posted something new. For that I am sorry.

I haven't been making anything. I wanted to have it be a goal to make something new at least once a week. But I have been sick as of late, so that's why I've been taking a kitchen break.

Can't have be making food while I'm all sick and germy!

So, in leui of anything new, I am posting these almost a year old pictures/recipe.

This is probably one of the best recipes I've made so far. The product and the pictures turned out great!

Ingredients

3/4 cup melted butter (1 and 1/2 sticks)

1 cup sugar

2 whipped eggs

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup blueberries

1/2 cup blueberry pie filling

2 cups plus 1 teaspoon flour

1/2 cup milk

Topping Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup flour

1/4 cup softened butter

Directions

Grease bottoms of 12-cup muffin pan. I used muffin cups and made almost 24 muffins. Melt butter and mix in sugar. Add eggs and baking powder. Mix.

Put 1 tablespoon flour in plastic bag with blueberries. Shake to coat berries.

To your butter/eggs/sugar/baking powder mixture, add 1 cup flour and 1/4 cup milk. Mix. Add remaining flour and milk and mix again.

Add blueberry pie filling and mix. Fold in blueberries.

Fill muffins tins 3/4 full and set aside.

-For the crumb topping: Mix sugar and flour in a bowl. Add butter and cut in until it's crumbly.

-Sprinkle topping over muffins and bake 25-30 minutes.

-Set on wire rack for 30 minutes to cool.

*If you have extra pie filling, you can freeze it and then thaw it when you make muffins again.

Getting butter ready for melting.

Added in sugar.

Added in eggs and baking powder.

Blueberries coated in flour.

Half flour and half milk

Blueberries

After the pie filling...

I ended up with 21 muffins.

Oops! I forgot to take pictures of me making the crumb topping! But there it is on the muffins.

This is after 25 minutes cooking time.

This is after 30 total minutes cooking time.

And 30 minutes of rest!

Inside of the muffin.

My favorite picture from the bunch.

Chocolate Turnovers-From Hershey's

Ok, I made this recipe last week for my manager's birthday.

See, I work at Arby's (I know...someone has to do it right?). And we have 2 desserts. Cherry turnovers and apple turnovers.

We used to have a chocolate kind, but they were only for a limited time only.

And my manager loved those things! She would eat at least one (maybe 2) a day.

Recently, she's been talking about them. And I mean constently. Saying how she wishes we had them again.

So I did some googling and found this recipe.

Ingredients:
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Chips or HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, divided
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 package (17.3 oz.) frozen puff pastry, thawed (2 sheets)
1 egg, beaten with 2 teaspoons water
1-1/2 teaspoons shortening(do not use butter, margarine, spread or oil)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Combine 1-1/2 cups chocolate chips and cinnamon in small bowl; set aside.

2. Unfold one pastry sheet; roll on lightly floured surface to form 12-inch square. Cut into nine 4-inch squares. Place 1 heaping tablespoon chip mixture onto center of each square.

3. Lightly brush egg mixture onto edges of each square. Fold diagonally in half; seal edges. Transfer to ungreased baking sheet. Repeat procedure with remaining puff pastry sheet and remaining chip mixture. Lightly brush tops of turnovers with egg mixture.

4. Bake 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from baking sheet to wire rack.

5. Place remaining 1/2 cup chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 30 seconds; stir. If necessary, microwave at MEDIUM an additional 10 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, just until chips are melted when stirred. Drizzle melted chocolate over each turnover.

18 servings.

Guys, these are so good! And they are super easy to make! Took no time at all!

Before Cooking

After cooking

After Drizzling the chocolate on top...

MMMM!

Black and White (Cookies)

Currently chilling in my fridge is a batch of Black and White Cookies. I will be baking them at 10 pm (because I waited to start making them and then forgot I had to chill them), so pictures will be up later tonight!

But first, here is the recipe!

INGREDIENTS

2 cups chocolate chips
3/4 cup butter (or 1 1/2 sticks)
2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs
2 tablespoons vanilla
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour

Set aside, 1/2 cup powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Melt the chocolate chips and butter.

2. Mix in sugar and let cool. Then proceed to add eggs, mixing after each one. Mix in vanilla, baking powder and salt. Add flour and mix.

3. Chill dough for 4 hours (or overnight).

4. Preheat oven to 350 degress F when ready to bake.

5. Roll walnut sized balls. Dip in powdered sugar and coat.

6. Place balls on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes on sheet, then transfer to wire rack.

*Notes* Alright, here's a few suggestions I have so far.

-I think it probably would have been best to chill these overnight. I don't think the dough was as hard as it could or should have been to roll them.

-I'm not even half way done cooking my cookies and already I've probably used 1/2 a cup of powdered sugar. I'll probably end up using an entire cup to coat all the cookies.

-This dough is quick to melt! So I suggest putting it back in the fridge for awhile. That's where mine is right now.

Now, onto the pictures.

EDIT!

I liked these cookies (like a lot. I really want to make more...), but some people at my job (my test subjects :D ), did not.

It is kinda like a crunchy cookie on the first bite, but once you reach the middle, it's very soft and sooooo good.

Peanut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Chips.

I have been seriously been ignoring my itch to bake for awhile.

I haven't really had a reason to bake anything, but then again, who says I need a reason!

About a month ago, I did make some peanut butter cookies for my boss's birthday. She love peanut butter cookies.

But since my camera is still DOA, I didn't get the best picture. So I didn't want to write an entry with a really crappy picture in it.

So now it's been almost a month since I wrote... So now I am finally updating.

(Like anyone actually follows my blog anyways lol)

So this week I plan on making...something. I'm not sure what. If anyone follows Bakerella, I might make her "hamburger" cupcakes.

But since it is a goal of mine to complete my recipe book, with pictures, I may make one from that book. Who knows?

I don't have my recipe book on my right now, and it's almost midnight! I should be getting to bed.

So I will leave you with this picture of the cookies and I will be sure to update with the recipe tomorrow. But trust me, they are pretty good. And that's coming from someone who doesn't like peanut butter.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Sugar (set aside)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375°.
Cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars until light. Add the egg and mix until fluffy.

Blend the flour, baking powder, soda and salt together well. Add these dry ingredients to the butter mixture.

Add the chocolate chips.

Drop cookie dough by teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheets. Take a fork coated in sugar and lightly press down on cookie.

Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375°.

Pictures/Recipe

I have an exam tonight and I need to start getting ready to leave (takes me almost an hour to get to school! The things I do for an education!), so for now all you get are pictures.

I'll edit this entry to add the recipe either later tonight (around 10 EST maybe) or tomorrow early afternoon).

So for now, pictures it is.

I'm really sorry that the picture is so bad. I just took one really quickly.

I have a few others, I'll go through them and try to maybe edit them...

EDIT TO ADD RECIPE

I've had this recipe for about 4 years. I got it when I took a cooking class around August of 2004, for high school.

It came from the Betty Crocker Cookbook and it's called "Hot Fudge Sundae Cake"

INGREDIENTS:

1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons baking cocoa
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla (I happened to leave this out)
1 cup chopped nuts (optional) (I didn't use these either)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 and 3/4 cup very hot water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat the oven to 350 degress F

2. Mix the flour, the sugar, 2 tablespoons baking cocoa, the baking powder, the salt together. Mix in milk and vanilla with a fork until smooth. Stir in nuts. Spread in an ungreased square pan (9 by 9).

3. Sprinkle on brown sugar and 1/4 cup baking cocoa over batter.

4. Pour water over top.

5. Bake for 40 minutes or until top is dry.

6. Spoon warm cake into dish. Spoon sauce from pan onto each serving.

MY TAKE:

I thought it was okay. I didn't add the vanilla (because I don't really like vanilla extract all too much) or the nuts (because we didn't have any at all).

I thought it was a little bit...too dry. But with the sauce on it, it was fine.

The recipe also suggested having ice cream on the side, so I did do that.

We had some leftover on the second day, so I heated it up in the microwave. It was alight. Definitely better on the first day though.

First Recipe Done!

But no pictures yet.

Today happened to be my kitten's first birthday (Happy Birthday Lucy!) and because of that (as if I needed a reason! ha!) I made....

Hot Fudge Sundae Cake!

It's called different names though. Basically it's cake on top (in a 8 by 8 pan) with fudge/chocolate sauce on the bottom underneath.

I took pictures (with my camera, despite the fact that the screen isn't working! I think they turned out okay though).

I will have to share them either tomorrow or Tuesday. I might have time to do it tomorrow, but I will have more time to do it Tueday.

I hope everyone had a good weekend and has a good start to the week!

Food waiting to be made..

Sitting in my kitchen is one box of devil's food cake mix and one package of chocolate chips. Sitting next to that is my recipe book, which is really just a 3-ring binder (that is falling apart and needs to be replaced, but never mind that...)

I talked about making something with chocolate Wednesday, but I couldn't find the time either Wednesday or Thursday. Now Friday is here and also the start of my work week. 

Perhaps Saturday morning would be a good day to indulge in some making something with chocolate...

I hope everyone has a good weekend!

Computer Problem

I just wanted to let everyone know that I had to have my regular computer's entire documents deleted.

For some reason, the computer wouldn't start at all! But luckily, I had most of the pictures on a website and the rest are on my camera disk (I think).

Another thing that happened is that my camera died. The screen is just white when I turn it on.

So I'm going to get a different camera soon.

But my sister has one, so I'll probably just use her's for awhile!

I'm thinking of making something with chocolate tomorrow...

I thought I would write a little entry with pictures to show you examples of the type of picture I take and the food I make.

These are the most recent pictures I have zipped off of my camera.

On the top we have Devil's Food Cake Mix Cookies and on the bottom are White Cake Mix Cookies. Very good, I'll definitly share this recipe!

Mock Apple Pie, for Thanksgiving last year. The trick to this pie is that there are actually no apples! The "apples" are crackers. And yes, it followed everyone!

Now we have Chocolate-Raspberry Cupcakes and Homemade Gauche. The frosting is really good; I didn't like the cupcakes so much.

Twin Chocolate Delights. I've tried these with and without walnuts (my favorite nut) and loved both.

These section of 3 pictures are Blue-Blueberry Muffins, with a crumb topping.

What makes it the extra blue is blueberry pie filling. So in every bite, you taste blueberries.

Finally I leave you with Chocolate-Walnut Cookies. 50 of them. For a Secret Santa Party at work. (Arby's if you much know =) )

I will try to make an entry either tomorrow or at the latest on Monday. Perhaps with these recipes or mabye what I might make for Easter.

Happy Easter all!

First Entry!

Hello and welcome to the first entry of College Cooking!

Let me introduce myself to everyone out there.

My name is Jessica and I am currently 22. My birthday is February 21st 1987 and I am in the middle of my junior year at Miami University (of Ohio).

As of this last year or so, I have discovered my love for baking and cooking. I have only taken one cooking class, in high school (just about 4 years ago) and I am always willing to learn more!

Last November, I started a 101 Goals in 1001 Days list and on that list are a few cooking/food related items.

• Finish my recipe book, complete with pictures
• Try 10 New recipes and add to recipe book
• Eat at Red Lobster
• Eat at Cheesecake Factory
• Eat at Chipolte
• Try 10 New Types of Tea

and

• start a blog for my recipes!

So far I have been to Red Lobster, eaten at the Cheesecake Factory (OMG, it was so yummy!) and Chipolte.

I have not tried 10 new types of tea and I have worked slowly on my recipe book.

And this is the first entry for my recipe blog, so I guess it's safe to say that I have started on that!

I need a new way to organize and collect my recipes. Right now I just place them in a 3-ring binder, in page protectors (which comes in very handy!).

Another love of mine is photography, so when I finish a recipe, I take a picture to print out and add to the page. That way I know what it looks like when done!

I believe this is getting quite long enough for my first entry, so let me give you some links!

Regular Blog: http://www.opendiary.com/entrylist.asp?authorcode=B185717 (Kitcat2199, over at Opendiary. I've had that blog for over 6 years now!)

101 Goals in 1001 Days Blog: http://august18th2011.livejournal.com/

Flickr Account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13029783@N00/

Twitter Stream: http://twitter.com/miamismartgirl

43things Account: http://www.43things.com/person/miamismartgirl09

and finally, my LibraryThing Profile: http://www.librarything.com/profile /miamismartgirl09