It’s Cold Enough for Oatmeal or Can I have an Oatmeal Cookie for Breakfast?

Hot Oatmeal with Brown Sugar and Milk

Yesterday, we awakened to snow.  It wasn’t a lot at first and there was still a little snow on the ground from the day before.  But, as the day progressed the storm increased and the snow continued to fall all day until we had almost a foot of snow. The Sierras have been suffering this winter from lack of snow and when it doesn’t snow we worry about having enough water in the summer and, since I live in the forest, we worry about fire.  So, the snow was a welcome relief. Continue reading “It’s Cold Enough for Oatmeal or Can I have an Oatmeal Cookie for Breakfast?” →

Karen Schmautz11 Comments

Breakfast with Yes! Chef! or What to do with leftover breadsticks

Last night we had a few people over for dinner and Yes! Chef! made his almost famous spaghetti and meatballs.  I thought it would be fun to have homemade breadsticks, so I found this recipe from Food Network:  Almost Famous Breadsticks.  Yes! Chef! thought it was a grand idea, but he didn’t understand that just because I found the recipe doesn’t mean that I wanted to make the recipe.  His first clue was when he asked me how much time I needed to make the bread and I just looked at him blankly.

Continue reading “Breakfast with Yes! Chef! or What to do with leftover breadsticks” →

Karen Schmautz6 Comments

Wild Mushroom Ragout with Crispy Polenta and Sunday Roast Chicken (on Tuesday)

Mushrooms

I love mushrooms.  I love to eat them.  I love to cook them and I love to photograph them.  They are more interesting to photograph when they are raw than when they are all brown after cooking.  But, I love them anyway.

Continue reading “Wild Mushroom Ragout with Crispy Polenta and Sunday Roast Chicken (on Tuesday)” →

Karen Schmautz8 Comments
Love People, Cook them tasty food

Yes! Chef! Becomes a Guinea Pig for my Food Photography Class. Or Hamburger with Brussel Sprouts

Hamburger with Caramelized Onions, mushrooms, Provolone Cheese and a side of Brussel Sprouts

Last night’s dinner was a hamburger prepared by Yes! Chef!  Of course, since he prepared it, it was not an ordinary hamburger.  It was perfectly cooked, with a thin layer of Provolone Cheese, caramelized sliced mushrooms and wonderfully caramelized onions.  And since he loves Brussel Sprouts, we had them roasted and lightly oiled and seasoned. I don’t know if my photos do this simple dinner justice, but it was mighty tasty. I love the simplicity of this rustic food.  Add a great glass of French Bordeaux and it was a memorable dinner. Continue reading “Yes! Chef! Becomes a Guinea Pig for my Food Photography Class. Or Hamburger with Brussel Sprouts” →

Karen Schmautz7 Comments

Stupid Kitchen Tools

Courtesy of WhiteonRiceCouple

I must admit that Yes! Chef! has an egg separator and a few wooden spoons, but no banana slicer.

Karen Schmautz1 Comment

Cupcake Catastrophe or Stick to Photography not Cooking

Finished Cupcakes (deceptively good looking)

I would love to be able to say that I made cupcakes yesterday and they turned out adorably.  I would love to post some photos that would make you swoon.  Alas, this is not exactly what happened.  It all started out innocently enough but something went wrong about the time that I added the flour while the mixer was in motion and flour flew everywhere.  All I needed was a long, long trailer and you could call me “Lucy” as in Lucille Ball in the movie, The Long, Long Trailer.  If you haven’t seen the movie, which came out in 1953 (I saw it much later), you really should.  It’s a laugh out loud funny movie.  Lucille Ball had perfect timing for comedy.

Continue reading “Cupcake Catastrophe or Stick to Photography not Cooking” →

Karen Schmautz11 Comments