Kitchen Ranch

The One Pan Pasta and Chocolate Ginger Ale

I had to try it: The One Pot Pasta recipe over at Martha.  I loved the ease (really, throw it all in the pot and sit down with a cup of tea) but the dish overall was underwhelming.  I might try again with double the herbs as well as adding a bit of this or that.

 Anyone that has come to visit us knows that they can look forward to several Amazon packages on their doorstep to transport to us.  When I went to San Diego recently, I had several boxes waiting for me (In fact, I traveled to San Diego recently with a nearly empty suitcase that returned to Costa Rica filled).

The delicious chocolate ginger ale was inspired by one of the treats that made it back in my suitcase (below).  The recipes are easy, often the ingredients are already in your kitchen.  I personally am not keen to serve my kids store-bought soda, not only because of the health reasons but also because of the waste that purchases like that generate.  BUT, a homemade fresh and fizzy drink is very appealing.  Yes, please!

Making Vanilla Extract

There have been a lot of new developments around here but, before I expand on that, I'd like to document this effort to make vanilla extract.

We eat pretty local living here in the rural jungle.  Some of the local offerings are easy to incorporate into our diet and other offerings are exciting but a little intimidating.  Vanilla extract seemed like a good place to start because I use a lot of vanilla when I bake and I use vanilla almost daily when I make almond milk.  

One of the exciting things about making your own vanilla extract is that as the vanilla is used, one can top off the jar with more vodka and continue using the extract for a couple years!  

These vanilla pods are organic and cost me $3 at the farmer's market.  Place 3-4 pods in a jar and fill the jar with vodke.  Wait two weeks before using your extract.  After two weeks your jar should be a lusty brown color.

Just bottled.  I will follow up on this in two weeks.  In the meantime, I have cacao nuts on my kitchen shelf and I plan to have a go at making chocolate.

Chocolate Chip Cookies (not a recipe)

I want to note what I cannot find here in Nosara.  Parchment paper, a cookie sheet and chocolate chips.  

Chocolate chips can be found at Pricesmart, which is like a Cost Co,  in San Jose.  San Jose is a four hour drive (not worth it for chocolate chips).  Having made chocolate chip cookies with chopped chocolate, I don't know if I'll ever miss chcolate chips again.  The chunks are well worth the wrist work out.  

I never found a cookie sheet but I did find a silicone mat which disregards a need for parchment paper.  The mat works fine as you can see below.

This guy.

The chunks are more tempting, no?

Delicious, Delightful and Dangerous

Every Thursday afternoon, a truck rumbles up the driveway and honks.  Meet Jose and Diego (not pictured) of Panderia Alemana.

Like the ice cream truck, but better.   

 

It is so easy and so inviting.  A dangerous Thursday habit we LOVE.  

Caramel Donuts!  

My favorite is the apple cake, it is the best ever. 

Monthly Grocery Bill for a Family of Five

A favorite quote of mine that I heard from Joel Salatin, "You can pay the doctor or pay the farmer!"

For March I kept all of our grocery receipts and added them up at the close of the month. The grand total offered itself at $1029.99. At first I gasped.... then I thought about it.

5 of us eat 3 meals a day for about $12 a meal. Not bad at all considering we buy local, organic (most of the time) and the total included fancy cheese, beer and wine.

A few relevant notes:

• We eat out less than 10 times a month
• Beer and wine is a regular beverage around here not reserved for special occasions
• We have friends around for dinner often
• We have chickens that offer us our eggs and we do eat a lot of frittatas and tarts
• The garden was generous in the lettuce department this month-I day dream of a more organized and productive garden
• The husband and I work from home so lunch is included in the total
• I shop at a variety of grocery stores and farmer's markets -none of them being big box. While I am not too insane about saving money I am mindful when it comes to what costs what and where: I will buy a loaf of bread at Trader Joes rather than Sprouts if I can save $1.95 per loaf 

I find the cost of living to be a fascinating topic-especially where food is concerned. Clearly one can spend less on groceries but in doing so I feel that quality and freshness will be compromised. I would love to hear any feed back regarding your own experiences in feeding your family. 

Triple Decker Chocolate Cake

Because it is Sunday...... and cakes needn't always be reserved for special occasions, right?

 

 

 

This cake recipe: Chocolate Cake along with this recipe for Chocolate Sauce ....add strawberries and powdered suger.

EAT with favorite people.

Oh, and delicious fresh pasta bar offering various pastas with mix and match sauces we had for dinner ....

 

 

Eggplant Curry

Although it may appear that I existed on cakes, brownies and assorted sweets through this pregnancy I really did not. I also rediscovered my love of any veg curry and rice....

Eggplant Curry

• 1 Eggplant
• 4 Garlic Cloves
• 1 Can Diced Tomatoes
• 3  Tablespoons Chopped Parsley
• 1 Tablespoon Cilantro Chopped
• 2 teaspoons Paprika
• 3/4 Teaspoon Cumin
• Pinch of Cayenne
• 1 Tablespoon Fresh Lemon Juice
• Fresh Ground Pepper

Cook the sliced eggplant in olive oil as you like it. Set aside.

Mash garlic with salt and add to a skillet along with tomatoes, parsley, cilantro, paprika, cumin and cayenne. After about 10 minutes, add eggplant and continue to cook until all ingredients are warm. Lastly, add lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

Pasta Cake

We eat a lot of pasta. So when I read about forming pasta cakes and baking them, naturally I was intrigued. This is a great solution for leftover pasta of any fashion...

• Angel Hair Pasta (or leftover)
• Basil
• Salt and Pepper
• Parmesan

Prepare the Angel Hair pasta as directed. Place in a dish and mix with basil, salt and pepper.

Cover the pasta dish with plastic wrap and place in the fridge topped with cans for 24 hours.

Once the pasta has been smashed... cut it into triangles, top with Parmesan and bake at 400 F for 20 minutes or so.

Top with what you like. In my case, I tossed spinach, tomatoes and goat cheese into a pan then onto the pasta cake.

It was interesting, I am not sure that I loved it but I would make it again with leftovers. I think a creamy mushroom sauce with a strong blue cheese may accompany this pasta cake very well.