Write Your Own Cookbook

Well, sort of. I came across the Tastebook website and thought that it was a very interesting idea. A way to compile all your favorite recipes into your own custom cookbook, talk about a great gift idea. The only problem is that you can’t use your own recipes.

But then again, I could just head over to Target and get material for my own personal customized recipe book.  :p

Pizza Pizza

In the past few weeks, I’ve been busy fiddling with a variety of pizza creations. I sort of cheated by using pre-made Pillsbury Pizza Crust stuff because I didn’t have the time or the talent to make my own.

First off, there’s the classic Hawaiian pizza (pinapple and ham) that I’ve made numerous times in the past. It’s the one on the right in these pictures. Then there was the teriyaki chicken (chicken bits, teriyaki sauce, onions, garlic, and pinapple chunks) on the left:

And then there was this one that I made with my girlfriend. The toppings are spinach, ham, mozzarella, and onions.  Slices of the pizza were served with a side bowl of homemade leek and potato soup.  The brilliant green color is from the peas we added to the soup:

 

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

What a perfect for the fall season. My girlfriend and I made this delicious soup last week following this recipe. The only thing we did differently (as suggested by my gf) was roasting the butternut squash and fennel in the oven (375 for 30 mins) prior to letting those two ingredients simmer in the broth. Roasting definitely gives a slightly more robust flavor.

Oh, we also complimented the soup with a crunchy slice of French baguette toasted with grated Ramano, Parmesan, and garlic.

Fun with Char Siu

Here’s a quick and easy dish that goes well with some brown rice or white rice. Just stir-fry together some char siu (tasty Chinese BBQ pork), zucchini, spinach, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Mango Peach Salsa

Salsa is generally a wonderful summer dish. Tomato chunks coupled with refreshing bits of fruit and herbs is a thirst killer during those hot days. My girlfriend and I joined forces last weekend to create this wonderful homemade salsa using mangoes, peaches, tomatoes, white onions, and cilantro.

It’s great atop a perfectly grilled Wild Alaskan salmon fillet, with a side of pasta salad.