Gourmet Cooking For Two

The press release for my book finally came out! Thanks for your support! Gourmet Cooking for Two A romantic gourmet adventure that will satisfy your appetite and spice up your love life. SPRINGVILLE, Utah - August 19, 2014 - Author Chrisiti Silbaugh and Cedar Fort Publishing and Media announce the release of "Gourmet Cooking for Two," acookbook that gives credence to the statement: "The way to man's heart is through his stomach," and then some. Loaded with delectable delicacies and tantalizing treats, every soul-satisfying recipe has been created with love in mind.     Not only do the beautiful photographs of each dish seduce you to want to partake, but every recipe is accompanied by a romantic tip that is sure to fan the flame of your love or reignite the embers of a waning romance.      Whether its an appetizer, salad, soup, main dish, side dish, or dessert, Christi Silbaugh infuses romantic fun and wisdom into over 120 recipes. With unique romantic tips to accompany recipes such as Refreshing Shrimp Bites, Hot and Sour Soup, Chicken Cordon Bleu, and Orange Dreamsicle, "Gourmet Cooking for Two" will satiate your appetite while spicing up your love life. Maybe the way to your lover's heart really is through the stomach! Get your copy HERE About the Author: CHRISTI SILBAUGH is the self-educated chef and author of three cooking blogsincluding: Mom, What's For Dinner, Gourmet Cooking For Two andZero Calorie Life. She writes for foodie media giants Glam Media and Federated Media and works for Fast Forward Events, covering food and wine events in San Diego. Since 2009, she has created and posted over 1,000 gluten-free recipes. She lives with her family in California.

Cedar Fort Inc. 2014

Oven Baked Omelette's

There is just something magical about breakfast in bed. I think it is because everyone wants it, but not too many people want to get up and make it. Even though I am a go go go kind of person, I still love a lazy morning. I love it so much, that I want to bless my husband with it.  I have a little repertoire of quick meals that look and taste divine, in no time at all. This is one of them. I get in and out of the kitchen so fast, he doesn't even realize breakfast is coming. I hop back in bed for morning snuggles, and 40 minutes later, the timer goes off and we have an amazing breakfast. 

Romantic tip: Treat your love to breakfast in bed. They just might return the favor sometime!

What I love so much about these omelette's is that you can cater them to individual taste's. For instance, my husband likes all things hotter than hades. I love spice and heat, but he likes it over the top. So I added jalapeno peppers to his. You can cook the bacon and saute the onions the night before, so all you have to do is pop the omelette's in the oven. 

Oven Baked Omelette's 

adapted from Taste of Home

4 bacon strips, diced

1/2 onion, diced

2 green onions, sliced

4 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/4 teaspoon salt

1-1/4 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided

Cook bacon until crisp. Drain the pan, but don't clean the pan. Set bacon aside. 

In the same pan you cooked the bacon saute onion until tender; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add the milk, salt, 1 cup

cheese, bacon and sauteed onions. Transfer to a greased shallow

2-qt. baking dish. Or to two individual baking dish. Top with sliced green onions.

Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes. 

Take out and sprinkle with

remaining cheese. Bake another 10 minutes. Serve warm. 

I like to serve these, breakfast in bed style.

If you like my work, please support it by getting my cookbook

Gourmet Cooking for Two

A Healthier Maple and Brown Sugar Hot Cereal

I was really intrigued when I received a parcel that contained a bunch of KAMUT®products to try. The first product that cought my eye was a bag of Rolled KAMUT®.

KAMUT®wheat looks very similar to common wheat. However, its grains are twice the size of modern wheat kernel. I think it looks a lot like oats. 

It is considered a "high energy grain" because it contains more proteins, lipids, amino acids, vitamins and minerals than modern wheat. It is known for its rich nutty flavor. KAMUT®wheat is used similarly as modern wheat. Its grains can be either directly consumed or milled into flour. It can be found in breads, bread mixes, breakfast cereals, cookies, waffles, pancakes, bulgur, backed goods, pastas, drinks, beer and snacks.

The first thing that came to my mind to make is a healthier Maple and Brown Sugar hot cereal. That flavor is loved by us. Once upon a time, I fell for the over processed, high in sugar, virtually no wholesomeness whatsoever, quaker instant oatmeal. Well step aside captain quaker. This cereal is ready in 3 minutes and is very wholesome. 

So how can it be wholesome with brown sugar and maple syrup? Simple. Have you tried organic sucanat? 

Unlike refined and processed white cane sugar and brown cane sugar, Sucanat retains its molasses content. It is essentially pure dried sugar cane juice. Minimal processing produces a much healthier natural sweetener that is much sweeter using a smaller amount. 

Using pure maple syrup also adds to the sweetness of this cereal. Pure maple syrup is wholesome. Producing a lot of sweetness with less sugar than traditional refined sugars and syrups. 

A Healthier Maple and Brown Sugar Hot Cereal

serves 2

2 cups filtered water

1 cup rolled KAMUT®

1/4 tsp sea salt

2 tsp sucanat

2 tsp maple syrup

Bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add the sea salt and KAMUT®and reduce heat to medium while it cooks for 3 minutes. 

After 3 minutes poor your KAMUT®into 2 serving bowls. Top each bowl with 1 tsp sucanat and 1 tsp maple syrup. 

Enjoy!

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

My husband LOVES caramel. I know that any time I make anything with caramel, he will pleased. So when I was surfing pinterest the other day and saw Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls, I knew they had to happen. I haven't done much baking lately, and it was time. 

When I go through the trouble to make cinnamon rolls from scratch, I always make a full batch. No reason to make just 2 rolls for us. This recipe makes 12 rolls, I was in a sharing mood with my neighbors, and Randy's co-workers. 

These are divine. Proceed with caution, because your waistline will be affected. If you are ready to indulge... these bad boys are for you.

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

adapted from gimme some oven

Dough Ingredients:

1/2 cup milk (I used 2%)

1/8 cup butter

2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

1/4 tsp. salt

1 envelope instant or ‘rapid rise’ yeast (approx. 2 1/4 tsp)

1 egg

Caramel-Apple-Cinnamon-Sugar Filing Ingredients:

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

6 Tbsp. butter, (completely) softened

1 Granny Smith Apple, cored and finely chopped

1/2 cup caramel sauce, homemade or store-bought (recipe for caramel sauce below.)

Topping:

1/2 cup caramel sauce, homemade or store-bought (recipe for caramel sauce below.)

To Make The Dough & Filling:

Melt the butter and add it to your milk. Heat until a little warmer than room temperature. You can do this on the stove top or in the microwave.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, add half the flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Stir by hand to combine. Add the egg and milk mixture, and turn the kitchenaid on medium-low speed until combined. Add the remaining flour, 1/4 cup at a time, beating after each addition until incorporated. When the dough begins to form a ball and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, you have added enough flour. Continue beating for 5 minutes on medium-low speed to knead the dough. 

Remove the dough hook and cover the dough with a damp towel and let rise for at least 30 minutes or until almost double in size.

Meanwhile, begin making your filling by whisking together sugars and cinnamon in a bowl until combined.

When the dough is ready, turn it out onto a floured work surface. Then use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough out into a large rectangle, about 14 x 9 inches in size. 

 Use a knife or pastry spatula to spread the softened butter out evenly over the entire surface of the dough. 

Then sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Then sprinkle on the finely chopped apples, and drizzle with 1/2 cup caramel sauce.

Beginning at the 14-inch edge, tightly roll up the dough. 

And then give the final seam a little pinch so that it seals. 

I cut off the ends and just cut it up to make a tiny dish of pull apart bread.

Cut into 12 rolls. Place each of the cut cinnamon rolls into a greased pie plate or 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Then cover again with a damp towel, and leave the dish in a warm place to rise for 1 hour. If you have a sunny windowsill this works great. 

If not, I find a heating pad on low setting works wonderful. 

When the rolls have risen, uncover the dish. Then place on the center rack of the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes, or until the rolls are golden and cooked through. Remove and let cool for at least 5 minutes. Drizzle with remaining caramel sauce and serve.

Homemade caramel sauce 

1 packed cup brown sugar

1/2 cup half-and-half

4 tablespoons butter

Pinch salt

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Mix the brown sugar, half-and-half, butter and salt in a saucepan over medium-low heat. 

Cook while whisking gently for 5 to 7 minutes, until it gets thicker. Add the vanilla and cook another minute to thicken further. Turn off the heat, cool slightly and pour the sauce into a jar. Refrigerate until cold.

Scones

 

I have been in search of the perfect scone recipe. I just wanted a plain scone that I could dress with some lovely strawberry lavender preserves that I got from Terra Verde Farms booth at the local Farmer's Market. 

Terra Verde Farms' specialty foods are hand made by them in small batches from recipes that have been in their family for generations. They want you to remember what a ripe peach, blackberry, or tomato tastes like. Their artisan foods enable you to close your eyes and remember Aunt Annie's Wild Plum Preserves, Grandma's Peach Cobblers, or that juicy, plump, fresh picked blackberry you snuck into your mouth instead of putting in your pail. Check them out! 

These scones go beautifully with the preserves. With the bright flavors of strawberries and the subtle hint of lavendar, the preserves are off the chart!

These are now my favorite scone. Light and fluffy but with a crunchy outside layer. I challenge you to come up with a better recipe! 

Basic Scones

adapted from Alton Brown

2 cups flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup sugar

4 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons shortening

3/4 cup cream

1 egg

Sugar for sprinkling on top.

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Mix well. Cut in butter and shortening. In a separate bowl, combine cream with beaten egg then add to dry ingredients. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. If you have a cast iron skillet, I recommend using it. I was fortunate enough to have a cast iron scone pan. 

If you don't, you can roll dough out and cut into biscuit size rounds. 

Sprinkle with sugar and bake for 15 minutes or until brown.

Pumpkin Coffee Cake

I absolutely love Fall. Even though where I live we don't get much of a weather change, the scenery changes and it gives me that warm cozy feeling. For one, they put in an ice rink every year outside the mall that is two blocks from my house. For two, all the bakeries have pumpkin everything! I love cooking with Pumpkin! This recipe isn't coming with any romantic tips. Just some festive flair to share!

Pumpkin Greek Yogurt Coffee Cake

adapted from http://www.barbarabakes.com

Streusel filling:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 tablespoon butter, melted

Cake:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 can pure pumpkin puree

1 cup greek yogurt

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Cinnamon drizzle:

2/3 cup chips

1 1/2 teaspoons shortening (do not use butter, margarine, spread or oil)

Sprinkle 1/4 cup powdered sugar on top.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 12 cup bundt pan, Or you can use 4 individual bundt pans. I used paper ones from World Market. They made it very easy to hand out. 

Combine streusel ingredients in a small bowl. Mix until mixture is crumbly. Set aside.

Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Beat sugar and butter in mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one. Add pumpkin, sour cream and vanilla, and mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture.

Spoon half of batter into pan. 

Sprinkle streusel over batter, keeping it in the middle of the pan (don't allow it to touch sides). Top with remaining batter. Make sure batter layer touches edges of pan (batter will be thick!).

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out of middle of cake clean. Cool for 30 minutes in pan on wire rack. Invert onto rack to cool completely.

Melt cinnamon chips and shortening in microwave on high for 1 minute; stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Mix together confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cake, Then sprinkle with powdered sugar.

6 minute Fruit Tart

 
Romantic gestures are great. I love it whenever my husband thinks of me, and when he does something out of love it is the best gift ever. I used to call my husband the dishwasher fairy. He would empty my dishwasher for me every morning just to make the start to my day nice. It always made me smile. Since then I have taken that job over again. Mostly because I have several fragile dishes that I want handled extra careful. 

I wanted to do something for no reason for my hubby. Around here, we usually wait until the weekend to go to the grocery store for our big purchases. I walk to the store almost every day, but the weekend is when I pick up the heavy items like detergent, beverages, and anything heavy... like a bag of potatoes. Carrying those by myself for 6 blocks is not fun, even though I have done it many times. This last time I decided to go get them myself just as a nice gesture for my hubby. Eliminating one chore from anyone's day is always nice. 

Romantic Tip: Be the Grocery Fairy. Most practical gift ever—surprise your love with a week’s worth of fresh groceries.

Now on to today's recipe. Sometimes I just want to make something that has a cute presentation. These little mini fruit tarts are a great side dish and make any plate look pretty. Serve them on the side of your eggs, pancakes, lunches, or just serve as a snack. Easy to just pick up and eat, and even easier to make! 

6 minute Fruit Tart

Won Ton wrapper

Sliced banana

strawberry

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

I only needed to make two of these. You can make as many as you want. For two it took 2 strawberries and a half a banana with 2 won ton wrappers. Adjust your ingredients according to how many you are making. 

Press your won ton wrappers into a cupcake, brownie, or muffin tin. 

Place in the preheated oven for 5 minutes.

While won tons are cooking, slice your fruit.

Once the won tons done. Add your sliced fruit. 

Easy Peasy, and oh so tasty!

Quick Breakfast Pita

I love getting love notes. Sometimes just a simple "I Love You" hand written on a sticky note can just make my day. It is even more special when my love takes the time to tell me how he is feeling about our love on paper. 

Romantic Tip: write a poem or love note to your partner and sneak it in their work bag or leave it in another place where they will not be expecting to find it.

Now on to today's food: 

I like to send my Man off to work with a nice hot wholesome breakfast. A lot of times this just includes a big bowl of porridge, or toast with eggs. Today I wanted to do something a little different. A lot of times he is running behind and needs to run out the door quickly, so I wanted to make him something he could grab and go. 

This breakfast pita was perfect. It comes together in under 15 minutes.  If you don't like heat, you can omit the Serrano pepper and use Tomato, red pepper or another veggie that is much more bland. My man loves it spicy. 

Quick Breakfast Pita

(Makes 2)

1 Pita Pocket of your choice, sliced in half to make 2 pockets

1 serrano pepper

1/4 cup sweet onion, chopped

1 TBSP Butter

2 slices ham, cut up.

4 eggs

4 thin slices sharp cheddar cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a skillet over medium high heat, add your butter, onion, serrano, and chopped ham.

Saute for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently. 

Whisk your 4 eggs up. Add them to the ham, onion, pepper, and butter mixture.

cook  for 3 to five minutes stirring occasionally to prevent the eggs from browning. Set aside.

Add two slices of cheese to each pita half.

Stuff the egg mixture into the pita.

Add stuffed pitas to a baking sheet or stone and place in the oven for 3-5 minutes to melt the cheese and heat up the pita. 

Serve immediately.