Cooking with the backseat chef

On the menu today: Jerk Pork Chops with instant rice, another recipe from Better Homes and Gardens' "Anyone Can Cook."

If I do say so myself, this was the best thing I've made so far. Sure, the pork was overcooked. Sure, I didn't really make the effort I should have to cut off the fat BEFORE cooking, or to scrape the "drippings" into the pan. Sure, I may have used every kitchen tool I have in the process. But I think it came out really well and I think Sean liked it.

This, despite the fact he is a backseat chef. I don't know if you all have encountered this before. By "this," I mean someone who has less experience cooking and is an infinitely pickier eater and yet insists you are doing whatever you're doing wrong. Now, I love Sean, and in many cases, he's right: I am doing it wrong. But today that was not the case.

After I finished cooking the pork, the directions called for stirring dijon mustard into the skillet drippings, then whisking in marmalade and orange juice. No sooner had I dropped a dollop of dijon in the center of the skillet than Sean said, "Um...I don't think you were supposed to do that in the same skillet."

I, being a defensive Latina, was like, "Yuh huh! What do you know?" And then he tried to convince me that, despite the fact the instructions didn't mention it, I was supposed to transfer all the ingredients to a sauce pan. Needless to say, I ignored him and the sauce came out perfect, as evidenced below. Sean, I'm sorry to rat you out to the Internets.

I'd like to take a moment to sing the praises of Uncle Ben's Instant Rice. It cooks perfectly and the only step is "Open bag. Microwave bag. Remove rice." It was ridiculously easy. My Backseat Chef, however, made sure to tell me that I shouldn't have bought the butter-flavored rice, so next time, we'll be cooking the plain white.



And LOOK, only one disaster:

SPLAT!

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Title: How to Make Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls)

Ingredients for Onigiri
7 pieces

360cc Rice for 7 Onigiri (1.52 u.s. cup)
**Molding rice when it is still warm makes it easy to form onigiri into a desired shape.
Japanese rice: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_rice

2 sheets of Toasted Nori

1 piece of Lightly-Salted Salmon

50g Sliced Beef Short Ribs (1.76 oz)
1 tsp Soy Sauce
1 tsp Sugar
Grated Ginger

1 leaf of Pickled Hiroshimana
Boiled and Dried Baby Sardines
Toasted White Sesame Seeds

Umeboshi - Pickled Plum
Okaka - Dried Bonito Flakes Moistened with Soy Sauce

Canned Tuna
Mayonnaise
Wasabi

Miso
Long Green Onion
Sake or Water

Soy Sauce

Salt Water
50ml Water (0.21 u.s. cup)
5g Salt (0.18 oz)

- Toppings -
Shiso Leaf
Parsley
Kinome - Young Leaves of Sansho Pepper

About Music
Frédéric Chopin - Valse in D-flat major "Minute Waltz" - Op. 64 No. 1
Play by Muriel Nguyen Xuan, recording by Stéphane Magnenat
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Title: Great Depression Cooking - The Poorman's Meal

91 year old cook and great grandmother, Clara, recounts her childhood during the Great Depression as she prepares meals from the era. Learn how to make simple yet delicious dishes while listening to stories from the Depression.


www.GreatDepressionCooking.com

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Rehearsal Dinner: Sharon & Francis

When the ladies at Gertrude & Mabel sent Sharon and Francis' rehearsal dinner photos to me, I could not wait to share them with you. The photos are wonderful, and all of the details are so much fun. Plus, I thought the red and white color scheme was fitting for Valentine's Day.


The wedding and rehearsal dinner took place in Bristol, a town that straddles the Virginia/Tennessee border, and Sharon's hometown.


140 guests joined in the fun at The Olde Farm for the rehearsal dinner.


Sharon wore a dress by Miu Miu and shoes by Sigerson Morrison.






The evening was planned in the spirit of "cheap and cheerful." Red bandannas used for napkins were purchased from Oriental Trading. Red geraniums from a local garden center were placed in basket from the Texas Basket Company as living centerpieces.










Since Sharon and Francis live in New York City, and Francis is from England, they thought it would be fun to treat their out-of-town guests to some Southern food and music - barbecue and and bluegrass (a local bluegrass band played)! Dinner was catered by The Olde Farm, and included Southern favorites like pulled pork, barbecue chicken, baked beans, and slaw. Beer was kept cold in big galvanized tubs full of ice, with vintage bottle openers hanging from ribbons tied to the handles.


Strawberry shortcake was served in red- and white-checked paper trays.


There was also homemade ice cream in a variety of regional flavors such as peach and Southern Comfort pecan.


Sharon designed the paper napkins and wooden spoons to match a motif on the invitations (she is a graphic designer at Yours Etcetera).


The large barn was decorated with custom papel picado banners from Mexican Sugar Skull - a great keepsake!


To make the huge barn seem more intimate, they "lowered" the ceiling by hanging the paper banners and strings of round party lights.


The piñata in Sharon and Francis' initials was a huge hit. It was filled with all kinds of adult-appropriate goodies, like mini liquor bottle chocolates, candy cigarettes, fake engagement rings, little metal bird and bug pins from Silver Crow Creations, and old fashioned candy from Economy Candy in New York. The pins and rings were wrapped in small glassine bags, sealed with a red dot sticker from Staples.


The red lanterns were purchased from Oriental Trading.






The evening ended with a big bonfire and s'mores - graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate were in little bags nearby, along with sticks for marshmallow roasting.






This looks like such a fun party - thank you so much to Sharon and Francis for sharing all of the details with us, and to Gertrude and Mabel for sharing your perfect photos! For even more inspiration, check out Sharon and Francis' beautiful wedding, featured on Martha Stewart Weddings.

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Title: Sara and Diego's Rehersal Dinner

Title: Esther & Jim Wedding - Rehearsal Dinner Groomsmen Gifts

Presentation of Groomsmen gifts at Jim and Esther Ost (Gomez) wedding rehearsal dinner, Saltillo, Coahuila, July 5, 2002.

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I.D.O. Spotlight: Megan + Brandon

We created a standard size verse banner for Megan & Brandon as well as a custom monogram aisle runner with monogram 2A. We love the way their items turned out and we wish them the very best as they will be married this month!

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Title: What You Claim (Lyrics) - The Ranger$

No Copyright Infringement Intended
Just Another Ranger$ Lyrical Video Pretty Sure Sumthinq's Wronq But Just Let Me Know If There Is Ohh And iDo Sub 4 Sub;) Thanx 4 Watchinq

Title: (HQ) iCarly "Spaghetti Taco Night" November 6th!

Due to the recent huge boom in popularity of Spencer's (really) famous spaghetti tacos, they got their very own spotlight on Nick! Cook up a batch, then enjoy a whole night of spaghetti and taco filled iCarly episodes November 6th. :)

Check it out: http://danwarp.blogspot.com/2010/10/spaghetti-tacos-sweep-nation-really.html

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Logos for Ella Scott Jewels

Good friend Janet of Ella Scott Jewels asked us to come up with a few designs for her etsy shop where she offers hand-made jewelery (gorgeous jewelery!) She is super talented and we were thrilled when she came to us with this request. She basically gave free reign to be creative and I have to admit I am in LOVE with the designs we came up with for her. Here are 3 of my faves... which one do you like best?

Janet's Feedback: LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!! You are so talented! No wonder you are doing so well!!! :)

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Title: Ella me levanto

exclusivo exclusivo ..

el temazo 2007 exclusivo por dj crash ...sin marcas ni logos ...


el original ..

agradescan si po


XD

Title: Tino Lopez ELLA en vivo 2010

Tino Lopez en la feria 2010 en Santiago Tianguisteco, presentadose con su Regreso e Interpretando temas que convirtio en clasicos con el extinto grupo Cañaveral y presentando su Nueva y Reciente produccion 2010 AHORA VOY YO... donde encontraras temas como ELLA, CUMBIA DE LOS CADILLACS, POR RETENERTE, NO LE PEGUE A LA NEGRA y mas... en Mexico e interior y exterior de la republica mas gastos de envio...pidelo en:

-http//www.myspace.com/lacumbiadetinolopez

Tels: (0155) 1713 44 40 y 54 23 34 34
cels: 04455 2279 4440 y 04455 3671 6617

e-mail fiesta_representaciones@hotmail.com javis@hotmail.com esegenri_gloko@hotmail.com elangelo2tk@hotmail.com

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Cricut Cards.

I had my preceptorship class today, went pretty well I think.

A little less than a month until I'm home in RI and eating lobster rolls on the Cape.....can't wait.....

My Cricut Expression came last week and I have been using it to make cards. I wanted to show you guys my first attempts. What do you think?

thank you card for Aunt Kathy

Note for mom

Note for M-I-L Lynn

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Adorable card using these two adorable cartridges! Gotta love it. When done watching this....check this out..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOAMl2f8uRs

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