Fortune Cookies

I don't know why but I've always had a love and fascination for fortune cookies! When I go to a Chinese restaurant I selectively choose which cookie fortune should be mine. Fortune cookies taste all right but the fortune is the best part! I used to tape all fortunes in my journal. They're just so much fun! The most recent fortune I received said, "Your road to glory will be rocky, but fulfilling."
Thanks to Groupon I recently became acquainted with fancyfortunecookies.com. I didn't do the Groupon because I don't have an event to order lots of fortune cookies for but I think it's an awesome idea. The above picture came from their website.

To Cook

During the past few days I have really been in a cooking/baking mood! I can't get enough! Friday I didn't work which was both good and bad (good because it gave me plenty of time to cook and bad because it means I don't get paid). After waking up, going to the gym, and getting ready for the day, I began to cook. First I made some incredibly delicious chocolate chip cookies. (I was having company over that evening and wanted to have a dessert.) Then I made honey whole wheat bread. I love the particular recipe I recently acquired and had a yearning to make bread! Then I began with the Indian cuisine I was serving that evening. I prepared the chicken so it could have adequate time to marinate, and then began the Indian bread (Naan). While the bread was doing its thing I prepared a cucumber raita. It turned out mighty fine, if I might say so myself! Indian evening was a huge success! My friends LOVED it! And I had forgotten how much I love chicken masala! It was to die for!
Saturday I wanted to use the rest of the heavy cream I had purchased to make the chicken masala so I decided to make mint truffle brownies with a chocolate ganache! They were also pretty tasty! One friend even went as far as to say that they were the best brownies she ever had! Wow! That's quite the compliment!
In the coming weeks I'm going to hone my cupcake decorating skills. I've always wanted to take a cake decorating class which to date hasn't occurred but I did recently purchase an incredible cupcake decorating book which has some absolutely incredible and creative ideas! I'm super excited to try them! It looks like my friends and neighbors will be the benefactors of many cupcakes!

Pure Love of Winter

Winter is such a beautiful time of year! I recognize that it makes transportation more challenging. And most people don't like freezing temperatures but it's gorgeous! Today a friend and I went on a four hour snow shoeing excursion. I'm a little worn out and sunburned but it was an incredible experience! I love the way sunlight glistens on snow! I love the way ice crystals form! Winter is such a beautiful and serene season! I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to enjoy it this season!

3 Grocery Stores Later. . .

I was incredibly excited to make Hot and Sour Chicken Cabbage Soup. I thoroughly enjoy most oriental foods. I particularly love recipes with a little pizazz. The ingredients in this recipe sounded like they'd do the trick, so I was stoked to say the least! I had most of the ingredients. I made a trip to the grocery store for lemon grass, cabbage, and bean sprouts. At grocery store number one, I found cabbage and bean sprouts. At store number two, no lemon grass. And store number three, no lemon grass! What?! I realize not everyone cooks with lemon grass but are you serious; three major grocery stores and no lemon grass?!?! In complete frustration of not being able to find lemon grass (and not being willing to hit up a fourth) I made the soup without lemon grass. And guess what?! It was divine!!! Yay for Hot and Sour Chicken Cabbage Soup!!! It was a success even without the lemon grass!

Food!

I LOVE to cook! Cooking is relaxing to me; it's soothing. Lately I have been in a soup and bread making mood, probably due to the cold weather. However, most soups don't look that great in picture form so I haven't included any pictures.
I've made a few stews and wide variety of asian soups. The next recipe on the agenda is Hot and Sour Chicken Cabbage Soup. I'm really excited for this new adventure! I choose recipes by the ingredients. Some of the ingredients in my next soup include: hot pepper flakes, vinegar, soy sauce, lemon grass, fish sauce, black pepper, garlic powder, bean sprouts, and onion. Doesn't that sound like an incredible combination?!
The pictures I included here are homemade rolls, Dal with Spiced Tomatoes and Potatoes, and Naan. Yummy! I really enjoy Indian food! In the near future I plan to host an Indian evening. I'm going to make Chicken Masala, Fresh Mint Chutney, and of course some Naan!