Sunday, September 6, 2009

Inspiration

I love to cook but I'm afraid my motivation to do so waxes and wanes according to my schedule and how tired I am after a busy day with the girls and work. Recently I saw the delicious movie "Julie and Julia" and my zeal for cooking was renewed after salivating for two hours over butter, Boeuf Bourguignon, chocolate cake and a myriad of other tantalizing dishes. As a rich beef stew didn't seem quite appropriate in the midst of a summer heat wave I chose instead to satisfy my cravings with fresh strawberry scones, summer vegetables and a marinated Asian pork tenderloin.

Trust me when I say that smellavision would have added a lot to this post.
My lead taste tester.
Verdict: "These are really good Mom!" Another happy customer.
Just a quick saute.

Today was a very rainy September day (yay for rain! - that's why we live in Washington), which was perfect for my back-to-school meal-planning extravaganza. I went through all my recipes and cookbooks and was finally able to pull out some of my favorite fall dishes, along with some new ones I'd like to try. Just so you know, I do cheat by having Dinner's Ready meals in my freezer for those days we need something fast and easy but at least several days a week I make large dishes that will give us plenty of leftovers. A few of the recipes on the docket this month are braised lamb shanks with glazed root vegetables, pork with marsala sauce and roasted asparagus, my mom's french vegetable soup, pulled pork sandwiches and butter broiled chicken with sea salt and roasted potatoes. I know the first day of fall is still a couple weeks away but I am prepared with my recipe for hot mulled cider as soon as it hits. If you have a good fall recipe or website you use please tell me about it. I'm in a cooking mood!

P.S. Jason just walked in and said he has a taste for hot dogs. Hot dogs people! Does anyone else sense a disconnect?

8 comments:

Jennifer said...

Oh my gosh, I would love to meet you some day! I chuckled over this entire post for several reasons. First is because just this morning I was begging for rain (after a week of nothing but sunshine), and everyone looked at me like I was crazy.

Then next is the food- oh my, I am drooling now! The pictures looked fabulous, and the descriptions are making my mouth water! I too cook big meals (ok, more like double and triple batches) and freeze it to pull out later for quick and easy meals.

Have you ever read anything by Peter Pezzelli or Anthony Capella? Similar to Julie and Julia- one puts down the book and wants to cook AMAZING dishes.

"Are These Kids All Yours?" said...

You love to cook like my husband does- yeah for me!!!!!!! I love it- and I am not a hotdog person! That is crazy!

Springs Landing said...

Oh my Gosh Aubrey, I just started weight watcher and have been looking at all their healthy - low fat recipes and thought that this is no big deal! Then I decided to look over your blog to find strawberry scones.....I thought I had all my sweet stuff out-of-my-mind and was prepared to do this diet in all earnest....now I see your scones and that goes out the window. Only kidding, but I wished I had you next door, or second thought - glad I have you completely across the nation or I would be 100 lbs heavier. Anyway, the food looks wonderful. When is that niece of yours due?

Are you planning to start a blog on all your recipes, challeges and journey? Would love to follow it....I think you could do it. Didn't you just love the movie?

Sandy

neely said...

So funny...I saw the movie last week and came home and cooked a Martha Stewart summer tomato/avocado dish. Would love to see that scone recipe!!

The Hull's at #4 said...

Aubrey, I too saw and loved the movie and came home to make chocolate mousse brownies, they were incredible! I know exactly how you feel. I envy you the rain - we don't get much of that down here. You sure have a cute #1 taste tester!!

Darla said...

Can I get in on that mulled cider?

Jenny R said...

I need to watch that movie! I used to cook and bake all the time when I lived at my parents, but after getting married and everything I kinda quit.. Lol, too many dishes.. Your food looks great!

I know what you mean about the rain! We had rain while at the coast this weekend and last night, and I loved it. Biruktawit doesn't like it, but I'm sure living in Oregon she'll learn to love it too;)

The B Family said...

YUM! It all looks so good! I'm going to have to round up some of my girlfriends and go see Julie and Julia--I've heard so many good things about it!