Minnie’s Home

What’s better than white chocolate coconut cupcakes?

Having my daughter home making them in my kitchen.

Blog Jewels – Cooking Blogs

Ever since I started blogging a few months ago, I’ve been fascinated about what people blog about, how they blog and what makes a good blog. I’ve had some fun sharing blogging critiques with my daughter (who’s also my biggest critic). So I’m starting a new category on my blog called “Blog Jewels” in which I’ll feature blogs worth looking at.

One of the passions Melanie and I share are our love for cooking and there are plenty of cooking sites and blogs out there. The ones we chose stand out not only for their professional presentation of content but the incredible photography that supports the content. And most importantly reader-worthy content. A blog is worth visiting when you take something away with you – whether it be a new perspective, a new idea or a good recipe in this case. There are lots of boring blogs out there – these are some of the jewels! (thanks to Mellie for sharing these with me)

Crown Jewel goes to Joy the Baker Wow! Beautiful presentation – the graphics, the photography, the presentation of the content. As soon as you click on this blog, you want to go deeper – the photography of her creations is art within its own right. Food photography is not easy – I know this from my previous life in the advertising world.  Once you get past the photography, Joy’s blog is enchanting as she writes about her creations and so delightfully shares her baking passion with the reader. It’s friendly and inviting – you feel like you’re right there in the kitchen with her.

I’m Joy. I’m a baker. Had you guessed as much? I’m currently taking on my twenties, trying to show the world, and my kitchen, what’s what. I live in Los Angeles. That’s where I do a majority of my living, working, eating, cocktailing and related horsing around. I’m a self taught/ family taught/ taste buds taught baker. I grew up in the kitchen in between my father, who has a love for all things pie, and my mother, who is one mighty fine cake decorator. Between my kitchen loving parents, the clinking cake pans, and the flying flour, it became clear that baking is in my blood.

I haven’t tried her recipes yet – but the Root Beer Float Cake is first on my list.

Blog Jewel: Smitten Kitchen – “Food Porn” – This is what her many notable reviews call her presentation. And they’re right! When you first visit the blog, you’re hit with an exotic, thoughtful presentation of her creations. Again – excellent photography.  What I like about Deb’s site is that her personality is intertwined within her blog. She makes you chuckle as you read about her creations.

Deb is the kind of person you might innocently ask what the difference is between summer and winter squash and she’ll go on for about twenty minutes before coming up for air to a cleared room and you soundly snoring. It’s taken some time, but she’s finally realized that there are people out there that might forgive her for such food, cooking and ingredient-obsessed blathering and possibly, even come back for more.

Smitten Kitchen’s “About” page is very resourceful easily showing the reader where to go to get more – whether it be recipes, conversions or an opportunity to share recipes with them for review. You’ll also find an impressive list of well-deserved reviews.

Blog Jewel: NoRecipes.com Clean, distinct presentation – again, the photography rules here. It’s like walking through an art gallery with the art floating on a white wall.  You can definitely sense the Japanese influence here in the recipes, the content and the presentation.

My philosophy on cooking is that it’s 50% technique, 40% inspiration and 10% ingredients. I strongly believe that if you’re armed with some basic techniques and a little inspiration, you can make a tasty meal from even the most derelict pantry. That’s why I started this blog. To show you some of the techniques I’ve learned, to introduce you to new ingredients, and hopefully to inspire you to do some of your own experimentation.

While I personally find the recipes a bit of a stretch for my palate – like “poached aloe” – it’s definitely worth a visit!

Blog Jewel: Vegan Lunch Box – While I’m not a big fan of vegan eating – this blog is worth a click. The graphics and photography reflect a very   inviting look – it’s colorful, friendly and makes you feel like you’re on a vegetarian picnic.

A Soup-er Day

I woke up in a funk today. It happens. When the funk mood hits, there are three things that make me better. I need to be alone, I need to clean and I need to cook. And I had the benefit of all three today. And now Gary has the benefit of my funk mood (not to be mistaken with a “funky” mood). He came home to a clean house with a great meal on the table. (He’s smiling now.)

Today, I made Sausage Tortellini Soup…award-winning I may add. This recipe won “best in soup category” for a local fundraiser, Cooking for a Cause. And it’s still a winner today.

Enough about that. Here’s the recipe. Don’t wait until you’re in a funk to make it. It’s too good. Allow yourself some time to make the soup and enjoy it along the way.

Sausage Tortellini Soup

1 lb. bulk Italian sausage ( I like hot – either works)

2 TBS. olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 can (28 oz.) chopped tomatoes

3 TBS. tomato paste

7 cups beef broth

1 cup dry red wine (save the rest for getting out of the funk)

2 TBS. dry basil

2 tsp. oregano

5 carrots, thinly sliced

2 medium zucchini, cubed

12 oz. cheese tortellini

1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley

1 can (16 oz.) garbanzo beans

salt and pepper to taste ( I typically don’t add salt and just a 1/2 tsp. black pepper)

Lightly brown sausage in skillet; place in soup pot. Saute oil, garlic and onions; place in soup pot. Add tomatoes, paste, beef broth, wine, basil, oregano, and carrots. Cook uncovered for 45 minutes. Add zucchini, parsley, garbanzo beans and tortellini and cook until tender (approximately 30 minutes). Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with grated parmesan cheese. (and some good bread)

A Big Production

Today was the big production of the food video at our house.

It was a big production on their part as the cameras started rolling in….furniture was getting moved….and light tests were being done.

It was a big production on my part as I had to relinquish my kitchen (I don’t do that often). It was a big production as I had to keep my dogs quiet (not easily done). It was a big production in that I had to be quiet and stay out (again, not easily done).

And it was a big production as I watched my baby do something fabulous today.

Minnie’s Minis

Tomorrow is an exciting day here in the Lyell kitchen as Melanie, my daughter – (known as “Minnie” to many of us) prepares for a video taping of a cooking demonstration in my kitchen. Here she is putting the final touches on her Mini-cupcakes….a delectable combination of lime and raspberry! She’s got to make the cupcakes in various stages of baking – so she estimates a final count of 150 cupcakes. That’s before sampling.

I’m the lucky in I get to sample the rejects – and…since my kitchen’s tied up until tomorrow afternoon – get to go out to dinner tonight.