to make this week: another link round-up

• Creamy Pumpkin Curry Soup: I still have some canned pumpkin leftover from the All-Purpose Holiday Cake we made last weekend for our parents. I want to try making something savory with it!
• Double Chocolate Layer Cake: YUM.  Note to Chris! ;)  This would make a great birthday cake....

to do list for tomorrow (sunday)

...and the near future!

• Chocolate Caramel Cheesecake via bakebakebake LJ community
• Moist Vanilla Cake with Marshmallow Fondant via Boho Kitchen
• Big, Fat, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies via Allrecipes (I want to make these with M&Ms)
• Ginger Almond Cashew Granola via Chef Yum Yum
• Sweet Potato Soup with Fried Pancetta via Epicurious (Going to make this with bacon that I have right now instead of pancetta)
• Baked Sweet Potato Fries via Our Best Chefs.....yum!

my meals today, since i didn't get anything else done!

Although I did shrink wrap my window this afternoon...

Breakfast

 

Lunch (Trader Joe's Brown Rice California Sushi, toasted English muffin with cheese, clementine/grapefruit/mango fruit salad with fig balsamic vinegar)

 

Dinner (Turkey soup/stew with wild rice, recipe coming soon!)

the essentials for food blogging!

Or what I use, anyway!

 

My camera: Sony DSC-S700 7.2MP Digital Camera.  It works pretty well once I figured out how to get the most out of it - it's fussy but takes great close-ups.

 

Windows LiveWriter.  I never thought I'd say this about anything from Microsoft but...I love it!!  It works offline, then syncs to Blogger when I want to make the post, so I can create posts when I'm out of wireless range or am in the car.  It's a lot easier to add photos and edit layouts for posts here than in Blogger, as well, which is great!

 

ACDSee Photo Manager 10.0.  I learned about this program from work this summer while editing documents for a conference my boss was going to.  I really love the interface and software - it basically organizes all of your photos according to a number of possible methods (ratings, tags (like on Facebook!), auto categories (like aperture, ISO setting, etc)).  However, it also is able to auto-correct exposure and contrast, allows rollover previews (my favorite feature), and many other features I haven't fully explored yet.

to try: marshmallow recipes

I think these could make great Christmas gifts...I'm going to have some free time (ha, "free time") this week and after classes, so I'm earmarking some recipes:

• Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows
• Chocolate Marshmallows
• Strawberry Marshmallows
• Basic Vanilla Marshmallows

on the topic of pumpkins

Oh, this stuff is SO. GOOD.  We don't have any Trader Joe's in my area (so sad!), but my sister is going to college in Boston so every time we've visited her I load up while I have the chance.  I love fall!

 

I've been trying to find pumpkins to make some toasted pumpkin seeds, but I can't find any at the local grocery store!  I'll make a trip out to an orchard or something at some point before Thanksgiving, but I was hoping I wouldn't have to make a special trip out...sucks!

 

On my fall to-try recipe list:

• Pepita Granola from smitten kitchen
• Mom's Apple Cake from smitten kitchen
• Caramel Apples from 101 Cookbooks
• Pumpkin Spice Scones from Pinch My Salt
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chips from the Post Punk Kitchen
• Pumpkin Raisin Bread Pudding from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody
• Sweet Potato and Sausage Soup from smitten kitchen
• Roasted Autumn Vegetable Chowder from Pinch My Salt

to do list for NYC!

Most suggestions taken from David Lebovitz's blog at http://www.davidlebovitz.com/.

 

FIRST STOP: WE MUST!

Joe The Art of Coffee

405 West 23rd Street
New York City
(212) 206-0669

 

Popcorn!

Garrett's Caramel Corn

560 5th Avenue
and
242 W 34th St/1 Penn Plaza

 

Black & White Cookies

Moshes

115 Second Avenue

NYC

 

Gelato!

Il Laboratorio di Gelato

95 Orchard Street (between Broome & Delancey)

NYC

First Post!

This is my first post! How exciting. Chris (my boyfriend - he and I cook together often, so I'll be mentioning his name a lot, no doubt) helped me think of a name for this blog. It was daunting to think that whatever I picked will have to stay! I'm not used to having such an impersonal journal, in terms of who I am writing to. I have a LiveJournal for personal thoughts, but I've been wanting to start a food blog to share with friends and family.

Here are some topics to look forward to in the near future! (AKA, when I'm all moved in and settled into the apartment/work...oy.)
-Black Bean Burrito Pizza (YUM.)
-Italian Sausage and Ricotta Pizza (Chris's creation!)
-Popcorn, popcorn, popcorn
-The Perfect Omlette
-Varenyky
-The Perfect Baked Risotto
-Guacamole (YUM, again! The perfect college meal, I believe.)

-Strawberry Banana Bourbon Brownies
-Olive Oil Drop Cookies
-My Granola Staple - Chocolate Chunk Granola
-Pumpkin Cheesecake
-Yellow Cake and Chocolate Frosting Staple (everyone needs one of these!)
-My Mom's Smoothies
-Crepes, Ukrainian Style (Nalisnyky)
-Ham and Cheese Scones (one of my oldest/most favorite recipes)
-