from the kitchen of a girl who likes to cook and loves to eat!
Hi all! Thank you for your support as I move on from One Apron. The oneapron(dot)com domain will be expiring in about a month but I am moving the contents of the site over to a free web hosting site. You can access past posts and recipes at myoneapron.wordpress.com. Give me some time to get it cleaned up and operational and you can get your cook on!
Love you guys!
Jenelle (and her apron!)
Read MoreGood morning hungry readers! I have made the decision to stop writing to One Apron. Oh there will still be messes made in my kitchen as I bake delicious cupcakes and host dinner parties. But the world around me has distracted me from being the blog-keeper that I want to be. So I will humbly hang up my apron and say good-bye for now. {Cause you never know what the future holds!}
I want to thank you all for stopping by to read about mine and Seth’s travels and following along in our menus. I wrote for you guys! I worked on improving my presentation, photography, and delivery skills for you hungry readers. I have appreciated you being there to give me the drive to stay focused and to get cooking! It has also been a great experience being a part of the blogger foodie community. I feel like a whole new world of deliciousness has opened up to me! I have learned how to write, cook, and share about food from strangers on the internet who will never know the inspiration and motivation they have given me.
The feedback, encouragement, and visits to my blog has been humbling. It has also been amazing! Who knew that a little new years resolution to get a hobby would turn into something this magnificent! It has been a truly rewarding experience.
Thank you hungry readers for being so awesome! Until we meet again…
Love, Jenelle
Just like the rest of the world, I am obsessed with the Hunger Games. I have read all the books twice and was even able to get Seth to read them. And he loved them too! The Hunger Games is more than just an engaging and entertaining story.
It has a deeper meaning that adults will appreciate above the targeted young adult audience. The book captures the novelty of the realty TV culture, the effects of combat, and how behavior changes in life-or-death situations when the subject knows they are being watched by an audience. Sound familiar? The Hunger Games touches into the how relationships affect and change us. Katniss experiences the complexity of a love which grew from tragic and violent circumstances. When she comes home from war the Games, she is racked with violent dreams and an inability to just merge back into her old life. That old life includes her relationship with Gale. She has changed. But her home didn’t. Quite a shock, don’t you think? In the real world, it is happening everyday. Then there is the Capitol and the control that the government holds over it’s nation. When you get through the series you begin to wonder are the “good guys” any better then the people they are trying to overthrow?Are they really holding themselves to a higher standard in order to show mercy? It’s not a question of whether the “bad guys” deserve mercy but if the “good” can be better and give mercy. (Are we sure this is fiction?)
So if you haven’t read the Hunger Games, go and jump on the bandwagon. And I encourage reading the books before heading to the movies. The movie is amazing and book lovers will not be disappointed. (Can we say Twilight?) There are of course key elements left out or down-played and even though it was over two hours long, the movie couldn’t add in all the character development Hunger Game fans would want. But it was such a good movie and I can’t wait to see it again in IMAX! The ending… perfect lead in for the sequel. By the way movie people… I’m ready for the sequel now.
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It was my birthday on Saturday! So I decided to bake a cake. On Friday, my kind and generous friend, Kimmy, brought in her famous Mountain Dew cake to work. My coworkers sang and we indulged in the cake. But her recipe is a secret one and she has vowed to keep that way. Which means I don’t have a Mountain Dew Cake recipe to share with you. However, I think the fact that it is a mystery and can only be enjoyed on special occasions makes it that much more delicious!
For my birthday, Seth and I went to lunch in Seoul with friends. We had lunch at Vatos Urban Taco in Itaewon. This is my new fave restaurant in Seoul. It is a small taco joint off the main strip of Itaewon. We sat on the rooftop which was protected from the cold with a plastic tent. I think in the summer time, this will be the place to drink margaritas! Vatos Urban Tacos opened just last November by a Californian and a Texan who have implanted themselves in Seoul. Their genius comes in that they have successfully fused Tex-Mex and Korean BBQ. Hold the phone. You are now wondering how this happens, I can tell. First they have a very concise and modern looking placemat sized menu. The first side whets your pallet with their margarita selection (including the Makalitta – made with tequila and makgeolli rice wine- and the Corona-rita with sticks a bottle of Corona upside down in your margarita) and their Mexican Martini which I am trying next time I go! Vatos also gets you started in your culinary journey with their most popular item the Kimchi Fries. Get the Kimchi Fries. Even if you don’t like Kimchi, get the Kimchi fries!
The other side of the menu gets your stomach growling with their selection of quesadillas, taquitos, and tacos. They have fish tacos, shrimp tacos, pulled pork tacos, steak tacos, Galbi tacos, and pork belly tacos. The pulled pork and the pork belly (or Samgyeopsal) tacos were my fave. They are each so flavorful in their own special way. The pork and the steak are topped with a spicy red pepper sauce and the galbi and pork belly are cooled with crunchy cabbage. My stomach is growling just thinking about it!
Then we had birthday cake to celebrate with. This cake also doubled as a trial run for the wedding. We are having cupcakes for dessert instead of a traditional wedding cake. But I am thinking about making a small cake to cut with Seth at the reception, to keep a little of the tradition. And since I love to cook and bake and it is a lot of who I am, I thought I would contribute something to the food that our guests will be enjoying!
I made a cake from the last Food and Wine magazine issue. The recipe comes from Seattle chef Tom Douglas who gives you recipes to mix and match to make your perfect cake. I chose the Brown-Butter Layer Cake with Milk Chocolate Mousse Filling and Rich Chocolate Buttercream frosting. Talk about DECADENT! Of course anything made primarily out of butter is going to be amazing. And this recipe did not fail. The cake is moist, buttery, and nutty. It’s almost crumbly but then the richness hits you and it all just comes together like silk. The mousse filling needs to sit in the fridge overnight so make this the day before. It is super rich and so creamy! It is fluffed up with whipped cream. Then the buttercream. Oh the buttercream! The frosting is silky and it shimmers! I wanted to dive into the bowl and just swim in it!
The test run was a great success and I believe I will be making this little cake for Seth and my wedding in August. Unfortunately the tradition of freezing some cake for our one year anniversary probably won’t be kept. This cake is too good not to eat RIGHT NOW!
All recipes are from Food and Wine. Check out the links on the recipe pages for more options of cake, frosting, and filling flavors.
1. Preheat the oven to 325°. Butter two 9-inch cake pans and line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Butter the paper and dust the pans with flour, tapping out the excess.
2. In a medium saucepan, melt the 3 sticks of butter. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until foamy, about 5 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the milk solids turn brown and the butter smells nutty, about 4 minutes longer. Scrape the melted butter and browned bits into a large heatproof bowl. Set the bowl in an ice water bath until the butter begins to set around the edge, about 8 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour with the baking powder and salt.
4. Remove the bowl from the ice water and scrape up the hardened butter. Transfer the butter to the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle and beat until creamy. Add the sugar and vanilla seeds and beat at medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg yolks followed by the whole eggs. Beat in the dry ingredients and milk in 3 alternating additions, scraping down the side and bottom of the bowl as necessary.
5. Pour the cake batter into the prepared pans and bake in the center of the oven for about 40 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking, until the cakes are golden and a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean. 5. Cool the cakes in the pans for 20 minutes, then invert them onto a rack to let them cool completely. Peel off the parchment paper.
6. Set one cake layer on a platter. Spread the mousse filling on top and cover with the second cake layer. Frost the cake all over with a thin layer of buttercream and refrigerate until set, about 5 minutes. Frost the cake with the remaining buttercream. Refrigerate the cake until the frosting is firm, at least 15 minutes, before serving.
1. In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let stand until softened.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the cream until softly whipped. Refrigerate until chilled, about 10 minutes.
3. In a small, microwave-safe bowl, heat the coffee liqueur at high power until hot, about 45 seconds. Stir in the softened gelatin until dissolved.
4. In another medium bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar and salt at high speed until pale and thickened, about 5 minutes. While beating the yolks, beat in the coffee-gelatin liquid; scrape the side and bottom of the bowl. Beat in the melted chocolate. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the whipped cream in 2 additions. Scrape the mousse into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours or overnight.
1. In a blender or food processor, pulse the sugar until powdery. Transfer the sugar to a medium heatproof bowl and whisk in the egg whites and salt. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and whisk gently until the sugar is completely dissolved, 5 minutes.
2. Transfer the warm egg-white mixture to the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the whisk. Add the vanilla and beat at medium-high speed until stiff and glossy, about 8 minutes. Beat in the butter a few pieces at a time, making sure it is fully incorporated before adding more. The buttercream should be light and fluffy; if it appears runny at any time, transfer the bowl to the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes, then return it to the mixer and continue.
3, Beat in the melted chocolate until fully incorporated, scraping down the side and bottom of the bowl. Remove the bowl from the mixer and beat with a wooden spoon to remove any air bubbles.
I have to say that thinking about and working towards the planning of mine and Seth’s August wedding is one of my favorite things to do! I would say I am obsessed but that sounds too negative! I prefer focused and passionate! If you haven’t discovered Pinterest yet, then you are missing out. However, I must warn you… if you already spend too much time not doing work on the internet, Pinterest probably isn’t in your best interest. It is addicting and there is something new and pretty to look at each time you log on! Seriously, how can you not love it? I have several boards for each aspect of my wedding. Pinterest is a great organization tool not just for wedding planning but also home decorating, baby planning, craft and DIY ideas, and more! I have a board just for things I find on the internet that I think would be a great gift for someone at some point. Um, amazing!
And in between my pinning and working and pinning some more, I made this simple dinner. It really took no time at all and can be mixed and matched based on what you have in your fridge. I call this a scrounge dinner or a Monday night dinner. But to the untrained eye, this looks impressive. You can take all the credit!
Instead of a regular recipe, I am just going to talk you through this in steps.
First this is what you need for a dinner for 2:
Heat your oven to 400 degrees. If you have a baking stone, preheat that in your oven. Then prepare your veggies. Cut or slice them into bite-sized pieces. Toss in olive oil and salt and pepper. For a little extra kick, sprinkle on some crushed red pepper flakes or smoked paprika. Spread over a piece of parchment paper and place on the baking stone or a preheated baking sheet. Roast for about 20 minutes. If you are roasting kale, keep an eye it so that it doesn’t burn. You may want to add the kale 10 minutes into the roasting.
While your veggies roast, mix equal parts mustard and marmalade/preserves. I use about 2 big spoonfuls. Add in the dried herbs and mix well. Salt and pepper both sides of your fish. Place your fish on a sheet of parchment paper (skin side down if you have skin on your fillet.) Pour the mustard sauce over each piece of fish.
When your timer hits 10 minutes, add the fish to the oven with the veggies. When the timer goes off, check for the tenderness of the veggies (or crispness if you are cooking kale) and the doneness/flakiness of the fish. Cook for a few minutes more as needed.
And there you have it! Your throw-it-together-but look-like-a-pro-healthy meal!
Take that Monday!
I know I haven’t been posting a lot anything lately! I apologize. Things have been super busy and typically I just don’t have the time or energy to take photos and document my recipes. I promise that I will work on that! I was excited enough to share with you today something that I got in the mail. I ordered these a week or so ago for me and Seth and they are so much cuter and more awesome in person that I want to share them with the world! Everyone should get one. Or four like I did.
I am excited about these Homegrown Monogram Mugs from Anthropologie! Each letter has a different color and design. They have that home-made personalized feel to them but they are too super fancy to be made in a pottery class! I got a J and S and 2 Bs. J is for Jenelle, S is for Seth and B is for Botts… my soon to be new last name! There is a mug for every letter and every person you can think of that may or may not need a gift anytime soon. And they are only $8 each. I KNOW! They are perfect size for a morning cup of coffee or a scoop or two of ice cream for dessert. I give them two very enthusiastic thumbs up! I even got each of my bridesmaids one as a part of their gift. Shhh… don’t tell them!
I had to share. I hope you like!
So I kind of suck. I have been neglecting my blog. It’s not that deliciousness hasn’t occurred in our house. It’s just that I got kind of lazy. Plus most of my free time has been spent planning for our August wedding. That task is just going to pick up in intensity as the time gets closer. (So apologies in advance!) Plus I just ordered my CISSP study guide so when that gets here I will have to be super motivated to study. Which means even less time on the blog. I suck!
But I promise to do my best to get you sneak peeks into our kitchen and what’s on the menu. In fact, I have started to plan out each week’s menu. I find that this really helps focus the week and takes the stress off of trying to figure out what to make each night. Seth also likes it since he knows what to get excited about! I have a dry erase calendar on the fridge and that is where I keep the weekly menu. Luckily it is dry erase and the menu can be altered if circumstances call for it.
For example, last week we had a big snow. It was the kind of snow that came out of nowhere… out of nowhere for those of us who don’t pay attention to the forecast! The roads got really bad, really quick. Unfortunately it happened on the day I had planned to go to the supermarket to shop for the week. Weekly shopping usually happens on Tuesday or Wednesday after work. I was going to try to make it to the commissary but after scraping and inch of snow off my car, I was too cold, too wet, and way too nervous to drive further than I had too. My 5 minute commute home (I know! How lucky am I!) turned into a 45 minute one. At one point I almost parked my car and walked home. But since I am a lazy wuss, I waited in traffic to drive super slow on crappy roads with even crappier drivers! But I made it.
This was not the night we had burgers. The burgers were a few days later. On snow night we had pasta which is always awesome because you can just throw whatever you happen to have into the dish and it ends up amazing!
The burgers were our Friday night treat. This was a Rachael Ray creation which I could hardly wait to make. The photos were drool-producing. Um, In-and-Our Burgers… Dur! Of course it is going to be delicious! If you haven’t been to an In-and-Out Burger go ahead and plan your next vacation to the west coast just to get a burger from there.
There was some skepticism from my co-workers when I tried to make them jealous with our dinner selection. Mainly in the form that they thought no one could make an In-and-Out burger as good as they do. Challenge accepted!
And then there was great success! These were EPIC! They were flavorful but not overwhelming. They were juicy to the point that the juices dribbled down your arms as you ate. The onions were perfectly glazed. The double patty covered in melted swiss took your breath away. Epic. Make these soon. In fact, you don’t need to vacation out west. Just make these at home and wear your stretchy pants.
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