The Cookie Exchange: Challenge Completed

Although astounded when I found out I was actually going to be making 120 cookies in four days, rather than 12 (which was due to an arithmetic error on my part), I thought to myself, "Challenge accepted." This was after a slight meltdown ensued, of course. As I admitted in my last blog post, I have never baked to this extent in my lifetime, especially 10 dozen cookies, even if it was over a few crazy sugar-spewing-and-flour-mixing days of anarchy at its best.

From fruition...

I set off on Thursday with about three dozen in the oven, with these guys were on their way to being part of the group of 120 cookies to be received by my lucky coworkers. Fast forward to Saturday, when I made about six dozen, the biggest stretch of the race I had made that far along the trek. Next came Sunday. I reached out to my best friend, because I felt I was in need of some expert-baker help. My handy BFF helped me along, and we made the last three and a half dozen of the bunch. After that, we made them into pretty little packages.

Cookie dough is almost too enjoyable.

Funny part is, by the end of all of this sugar-y madness, I was enjoying myself. I had my recipe memorized, and I was making the best cookies of my life, which made me a proud once-a-year-but-soon-to-be-all-year-round-baker.

Perfectly pink

Today, I passed said cookies out at work, which was a little holiday party in itself. All of us gathered in an office that was made to be a garage originally, and still functions temperature-wise as such. Ladies of all ages and stages of life started bringing their cookies back to the garage, and then everyone started milling around collecting their equal amounts of cookies, mini cheesecake squares, buckeyes (my personal favorite), and the like. Joy!

...to creation.

Who knew baking could be so much fun?

The end product (a couple of them disappeared somehow)

Sugar Cookies Galore

I know I haven't posted in a long time, but to save time, and your readership, I'll suffice to say I haven't cooked/baked enough in a long time, either. But, here we go again!

This was my first attempt at making sugar cookies all on my own. "WHAT?!" I'm sure you will say, but this girl, as previously stated, is not an expert cook OR baker, for that matter. I know women and men of all ages will be aghast, but that's just a chance I have to take in sharing this blog. 

Before

Now, it's not like I have never baked before. I have been baking since I was little with my Great-grandmother, Grandmother, and Mother (along with my brother and sister from our Steel City). I have taken part in some of the biggest bake-offs (in our family) this side of Norway some have ever seen. Anyways, I have baked all sorts of cookies, brownies, and other various desserts, but this was all on my own. It may not seem like a big accomplishment to some, but to me, this was a gold medal. They are pretty good, too! I think they turned out pretty well, but you'd have to ask my significant other and another man in the house (Joe) to be sure! They were easy enough, and the instructions from generations of Nelsons and Flickingers were easy to follow. I actually think I like baking. Endless hours of fun shall ensue, I'm sure. 

First batch

The only thing I regret is not taking a picture of the counter after I was done baking. It was kind of  a disaster to say the least, but I guess that comes with the territory. Wish me luck on future baking endeavors! I may be cooking another cookie-themed post next week, also, because we are doing a cookie exchange at work, and I am joining in on one for the first time ever. I almost felt like a baker for a minute when I was asked to join in through a chain e-mail. The woman in me is really starting to show herself each year I get older. 

Hoping to get more reviews of my sugar cookies after the exchange, also. I'm also hoping I don't wear you guys out on Christmas cookie posting... 

The second batch turned out better, albeit a little crumbly.

Lemon Pepper White Fish and Pesto Noodles (again)

I decided on lemon pepper white fish and (more) pesto noodles for fish Friday yesterday. It was easy peasy! This is probably the easiest and best meal for 1-2 people I will post within this blog. I got these fish fillets at target for a pretty reasonable price, and I'm sure they will last me all the way through lent. All you do is throw them in the pan, with some margarine (or oil), then they are done after a little flipping and turning in around 10-15 minutes. Then, I heated up some of the pesto noodles I made the other day...and boom! Done. And here is my masterpiece:

Also, I think that, soon, I might take some submitted recipes from friends and family, and try them out, as long as they're not too difficult. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day, by the way! Maybe I'll make some green beer later. Can't be that hard, right? 

Parmesan Crusted Chicken and Pesto Noodles

So, I decided to try out this recipe that I found online: 

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into strips
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Directions

1. Place Parmesan cheese into a shallow bowl.
2. Beat eggs and water together in a bowl.
3. Dip chicken strips into the egg mixture.
4. Press chicken into Parmesan cheese. Gently toss between your hands so any cheese crumbs that haven't stuck can fall away. Place the coated chicken onto a plate while coating the rest; do not stack.
5. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Pan-fry chicken strips in batches until no longer pink in the center and crust is golden brown, about 4 minutes on each side.

It worked out pretty well. This recipe (from allrecipes.com )was easy and i had all of the ingredients for once. Yay! Usually, this is kind of a problem for me, seeing as I'm not a very good grocery shopper. My guy always advises me to get foods that I can make into a meal, but this has failed to happen often, as of yet. I don't have main ingredients mostly, though, so next time I will check the recipe before I get everything done for the day. Then, I will go to make the chicken, or whatever it may be, and make sure I have all of the ingredients needed beforehand. In the end, this recipe ended up a little Parmesan-y for me. If I make this again, I will be sure not to smoosh the chicken so hard into the parmesan, or put less Parmesan cheese into the bowl that is used for dipping the chicken into. But, I did it. Looks delicious, doesn't it?  (Paired with the last of my honey wine also. Delicioso!) 

So, I may have gone a little overboard on the spices...

Hi. My name is Chelsea and I am blogging to keep myself cooking, and keep myself sane. I am just learning how to cook, and, so, I've decided to share my exploits, and my experiments with cooking here.

My story starts when I was younger, and raised in the Midwest, eating mostly white, bland, and even plain looking foods for the most part. Being Norwegian and Swedish, this is a part of my heritage, and I hail from the bland food capital of the world. Throughout the last few years, though, I have expanded my palette, albeit kicking, screaming, and some whining and yelling were included, too. I have been pushed by my significant other to eat more and more spicy things, and I've learned to love them along the way. I also enjoy cooking , even though I'm not very good at it. I like learning, and I enjoy the process. Being taught is one thing, but learning on my own is another.

I've created this blog not to educate, or show how I can cook easily made foods, but to share some recipes that are easy and made for 1 or 2 people, which are the hardest to find. My other mission is to share my lessons in cooking, and cook more complicated food along the way.

Also, in my conquest to find recipes recently that I can make easily, and sometimes quickly, I have found that I have no spices, or any useful ones anyway. So, I bought some today, and hopefully this helps in my new endeavors in the land of cooking.