Cornbread

I tried this cornbread. Verdict later.

Ingredients:

• 3.5/4 cups stone ground cornmeal
• .5(3/4) cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 cups milk (I used milk powder because somebody used up all the milk)
  
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 to 2 teaspoons vegetable oil for the pan or skillet

Preparation:

Heat oven to 425°. Put a sturdy 8- or 9-inch iron skillet or square baking pan in the oven.

In a medium bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, salt, and baking powder. Whisk to combine.

In a large glass measuring cup or a bowl, whisk the 1 1/2 cups of milk with the egg and melted butter. Stir into the dry mixture until blended.

Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven and swirl a teaspoon or two of vegetable oil around in it until the bottom is coated. Spread the batter in the pan and bake the cornbread for 22 to 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.

I used my Le Cruset Stoneware Baker. It's such a good size for 2 - person dishes.

Ya'll are smart people.

Okay people. When I say I love my crock-pot because "you put shit in, and food comes out," I do mean it. And I meant it when I said you can put anything in a crockpot.
Recently a friend was telling me about a girl who had heard from somebody (and I feel guilty, as I'm pretty sure it was me) that she could put anything in a crockpot. So she put in some leftover turkey, some rice, some canned tomatoes, and some grape jelly.
People. Let's regroup. I'm almost 2/3rds a lawyer, so I can tell you this: A reasonable person in the reader's position would not have thought that anything meant that turkey and grape jelly would go together. Let's be reasonable here!
Possible crock-pot combos:
Beans, tomatoes, garlic, onions, and rice. Just make sure you have enough liquid that the rice cooks.
Tofu, a marinade, and fresh vegetables.
Tofu, potatoes, peas, green beans, peppers, a helluva lot of curry, and some coconut milk.
Maraschino cherries, pineapple, cake mix, and butter.
Chili beans, chili powder, and a whole hunk of meat.
Salmon in foil packets with lemon juice and olive oil over a bed of potatoes.
All of these things are what I meant by "you put shit in, and food comes out."
I realize that not everyone can cook well - but here's the thing - the crockpot cooks food for you. It is not magically able to transform grape jelly into gravy.
Are we clear?

Goat Cheese and Black Bean Buritto

So I came home for lunch today and made myself a burrito, but since I splurged at Costco and bought goat cheese over the weekend, I knew I wanted to use it. (Goat cheese is $4 for like, 1lb. of it at Costco, so its really not a splurge.) I had a black bean and goat cheese burrito at Burrito Beach when we were in Chicago, and it was delicious, so I decided to channel that.
Ingredients:

• Goat cheese
• Black Beans (I used about a half a can, but that was for just me)
• Spinach leaves (fresh.)
• red onion (I happened to have some leftover, you could use regular onion as well, or no onion
• Salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste (I was too lazy to mince garlic)
• Tortilla
  

Procedure:

1. Saute onions in olive oil.
2. Add black beans and warm through. Remove from heat. Season.
   
3. Add goat cheese and melt in with the black beans
4. Put tortilla in the microwave (I zap them for about 20 seconds so they are more malleable.
5. Spread a thin layer of goat cheese on the tortilla.
6. Add some spinach leaves.
7. Pile on the black beans.
   
8. Enjoy.

I estimate the total cost of this burrito to be less than $1.50. I think the one I got at Burrito Beach was like, $6. It did have veggies and rice though, but this has certainly perked up my Tuesday, all in about 10 minutes.

Low carb french toast

Cinnamon scrambled eggs!
This morning I wanted something sweet, but not to make a mess (we're having people over for dinner). I made cinnamon scrambled eggs - basically french toast mix, but without bread, which cuts the calories signifigantly, and makes them super easy to make.
I'm not even going to bother with the usual recipe format, they were so easy.
Take two eggs, whisk in two tablespoons of sugar, a dash of cinnamon, and some milk (maybe a tablespoon or two, it should look creamy.) Scramble!

Enjoy!