Magnolia Table

Fails & Finds

For the first time, in a long time, I had a “laugh out loud” fail. I was trying to replicate “Jo’s Fatayar” from my Magnolia Table cookbook. It was an uphill battle from the start. I knew the name itself would draw criticism from my family. It did. Not that they had any knowledge on which to base their rejection, just the simple fact that my family had not heard of it before is enough to get them riled. Of course, after reading the ingredients (ground beef, cheddar cheese, thawed hash browns, biscuit dough, etc.), I knew there was nothing really objectionable. I likened it to a pasty; beef, potato and onion in a baked crust- a personal package of seasoned meat filling. I don’t know if it was because I replaced the suggested “Grands” with my organic “Annie’s” pre-made biscuit dough, or because the method just relied on pinching the triangle-cornered pockets together without any type of egg wash, or such, binding… But, I knew about half-way through the cooking process, when I went to switch the baking sheets on the oven racks for even heat distribution and saw that my ‘pockets’ looked more like little ‘pizzas’ with unevenly disbursed mounds of beef and cheese, that my attempt was a complete fail. It really was laughable compared to the picture from the cookbook. My kids certainly (after hearing the confession of my mess up) wouldn’t try it now. My husband was a good sport, after smothering it in ketchup. (I liked it best with a dash of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce.) The dough, easy to bend into a taco shape while warm, actually reminded me of a Taco Bell chalupa shell. I made a mental note of this for future experimentation, took a picture of the mishap, and reheated various leftovers to salvage dinner. The kids were pleased.

I, however, am pleased with one of my new cookbooks, Real Girl’s Kitchen. I’m a fan of Hailey Duff’s blog, Real Girl’s Kitchen, and have followed it for a while. I really love her not overly complicated, but heart felt approach to cooking and living. I know the book has been out for a while, but it was still new to me and instantly one of my faves. I appreciate how transparent she is about trying to make healthy choices while still being delicious (my goal in food), as opposed to many celebrity books I buy where I’m constantly questioning to myself as to whether or not they actually eat their recipes (although tasty). I also really like that the majority of recipes are for one. I know that might sound weird, but usually when I cook healthy or want to try something fun (like goat cheese stuffed chicken breast, wrapped in prosciutto with shallot sauce), I know I will have to fight my children to take every bite. This way I can make myself, or myself and a couple of friends, a fun lunch without waste. If I think it’s something my family would enjoy, I can easily double… or quadruple… or sextuple… the recipe too. But mostly, I think I LOVE how that the Real Girl’s breakfast recipe for one, Quinoa, Butternut Squash, Kale and Fried Egg, calls for one whole butternut squash and two eggs. I don’t know if that’s a misprint, but that’s my kind breakfast and I think we could be best friends. It also comes with great suggestions and tips (I’ll take everything I can get). Here are a couple gems I eagerly pass along to you: #1 If you are traveling to New York City please note that between 3-5 pm taxi cab drivers are doing a shift change and therefore make it more difficult to hale a cab, so plan carefully. #2 If you leave a wooden spoon across the top of a boiling pot of water, it will not allow the liquid to boil over. So clever!

Recently, my husband encouraged me to go out and take a morning for myself- a rare, but welcomed treat on a weekend where we try to make the most use out of our “family” time. I went to the local café and got a pastry, pain au chocolat, a coffee (from their in-house roaster)… and, ahem, a breakfast sandwich, a toasted english muffin with Gruyère and bacon. Diet fail… but a pampering win. Priceless.

Not very far from the local coffee roaster, is my favorite store in the whole world, Acorn Farms. They don’t know it, yet. They sell kitchen wares, Polish pottery (as seen in there store window display above), cookbooks, oils, etc. They’re fabulous, and I rarely can walk in without bringing something out. They also offer cooking classes (of which I have taken a couple, such as, Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignon, Cookie Decorating and Canning Strawberry Jam). One day, I will admit my affection toward them, and make a plea to let me feature them on my blog.

One of my recent purchases from my aforementioned favorite store was this book, Tablescapes. Oh my word, I cannot say enough about this treasure… What a find! Everyone should own it (at least everyone that has an interest in setting a pretty table). I want to show you every picture in the book, except I’m sure that would infringe upon copyrights. Just know this, it’s a goodie. See how inspired I was to set a pretty ‘scape’ around it just to take a picture? Lol!

I’d love to hear about your finds (especially in cookbooks). I’m always looking for inspiration! And of course, feel free to share your fails… the gift that binds us together!

 

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Magnolia Table

What can I say, except that Joanna Gaines is perfect? I don’t know if you’ve read my “about” page, but she has pretty much checked off my dream list at the ripe ol’ age of 40. Farm, Bed & Breakfast (two of them), café, … check, check, check… Oh, plus a home goods store, furniture and home decor line, successful TV show, magazine, restaurant, garden, great hair, slim figure, fabulous kitchen floor tile… Not bad. And now, with baby no. five in tow, she has published her first cookbook: Magnolia Table, A Collection of Recipes for Gathering. I love it. I knew I would. Doggone it, if she just isn’t the most practical down-to-earth humble and fantastic home cook! Joanna Gaines understands that it’s not about perfection, it’s a more of “a celebration of bringing people together.” Getting into the kitchen, slowing down and making something to nourish her family is a way for her to unwind. I can relate to that.

There is no pretense in Magnolia Table. Joanna Gaines doesn’t claim to be a chef. She is just a mom… wife… daughter… with a love of tradition, meals with her family and making memories with loved ones at a table, counter top, or in the garden with good food. She states “…things within these pages might look like contradictions… I often buy organic meat… but I consider store-bought refrigerated dough and boxed broth to be gifts…” Ditto. Her cookbook gives easy to follow recipes for JoJo’s Biscuits and Perfect Roast Chicken, but she admits she is all for substituting with store-bought rotisserie chicken and ready-made canned biscuits. After all, every busy person knows that short cuts are an absolute when you’re trying to do it all! If time and planning permits, sure- make it from scratch. But when you want the home cooked results and just don’t have enough hours in the day… There is no shame in the pre-made game. Joanna isn’t too proud to admit things such as using frozen shredded potatoes in Jo’s Fatayar. And to be honest, that makes the recipe more approachable for me. To quote Nancy Fuller, “fresh is best, unless you’re stressed.” (And with four kids ages 12 and under, I’m like always stressed.)

Of course, her pictures are amazing. Not like over-stated, melted cheese nailed to a board and stretching pictures, but simple, rustic, and delicious looking images of food that you want to eat. Nothing seems short on flavor, including and ranging in influences from her Korean background (Mom’s Bulgogi) and her local Tex-Mex (Party Queso). And the book is sectioned into categories the way I cook- Breakfast, Soups & Salads (possibly my favorite chapter?), Appetizers & Starters, Side Dishes, Dinner, etc. She covers all of the basics; pie crust, mashed potatoes, chocolate chip cookies, chicken pot pie. But, includes her spin on family favorites like Gaines Brother Burgers with Drip Jam, King Ranch Chicken with Mexican-Style Jicama Salad, and Beef Tenderloin with Pickled Jalapeño Sour Cream. Joanna shares the same notion of never wanting the dome-lidded cake plate on my kitchen island to be empty. So, she offers plenty of recipes for easily grab-able goodies like Orange Scones, Cinnamon Swirl and Walnut Quick Bread, and Lemon & Lavender Ice Box Cookies. And then she totally melts your heart with a copy of a hand-typed Syrian Donut recipe she made with her grandfather as a child. She has a grip on practical family foods like casseroles and crock pot recipes… Hello? Eggs Benedict Casserole! (A recipe I nabbed from the winter edition of her magazine too, because Eggs Benedict for the whole family at one time is genius.) And she completely surprised me with some new recipes I’ve never tried… Baked Chicken with Bacon Bottom & Wild Rice. Am I the only one who has never lined the bottom of a 13×9 baking dish with a layer of bacon and rice? Side note: It is also very likely that I will once again buy Velveeta. Because, let’s just admit the truth: it’s a delicious food product… and so creamy! And since Ree Drummond and Joanna Gaines have found place for it, who am I to hold back?

Needless to say, I’m a fan. (And I’m going to start twirling my baked Chicken Spaghetti into little nests, because it is adorable.)