http://www.kitchenimprov.net Food Stories and Kitchen Exploits Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:41:58 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Well, at least the Monday crash after a manic Sunday. After taking the kids to a birthday party at the local pumpkin ranch (a.k.a. the amusement park and crowded dirt field that poses as a pumpkin ranch), I was already tired.  The party was a blast, I took some amazing photos ... http://www.kitchenimprov.net/2009/10/another-manic-monday/ When we were kids, my mom used to make her version of a German dish. It usually included cabbage, onions, potatoes, and apples baked with some kind of sausage, usually Kielbasa or Bratwurst. Generally it would be an easily baked dinner served with mustard and whatever green vegetable she ... http://www.kitchenimprov.net/2009/09/bratwurst-cabbage-and-apples/ Okay, okay. Enough is enough and it's time for me to stop being a perfectionist. Starting with my next recipe, I'll be adding pictures to my blog. I was hoping to be a little obsessive over perfection and build a light box to capture the real colors of my food ... http://www.kitchenimprov.net/2009/09/mysteriously-absent-pictures/ This is an easy chicken version of my mom's more traditional seafood coconut soup. This can be made in about 30-40 minutes for a healthy weeknight dinner. Traditionally Thai coconut soup is made with galangal root, kaffir kaffir lime leaves, and lemon grass, none of which can be purchased ... http://www.kitchenimprov.net/2009/07/easy-weeknight-tom-kah-gai-chicken-coconut-soup/ My kids and husband love my version of this classic bread. My recipe lacks the extra fat and corn syrup that you'll find in commercially baked versions. Mine also turns out lighter, so you'll need to adjust your yeast and rise times if you like the dense texture ... http://www.kitchenimprov.net/2009/07/cinnamon-raisin-bread/ This seems to be the favorite bread recipe in our house. Note that the ingredient ratios are optimized for a Zojirushi machine used at a high elevation and will yield a two-pound loaf. Some adjustments are offered, below, for lower elevations. Both variations will work fine if used ... http://www.kitchenimprov.net/2009/07/honey-whole-wheat-bread/ This is as basic and 'white-bread' of a recipe as you'll ever find me making. It makes a good first loaf if you're just starting to bake bread and learn the process. Remember, these ingredient ratios are for high-elevation in a relatively dry climate. I love this recipe for making simple ... http://www.kitchenimprov.net/2009/07/basic-white-bread-for-the-zojirushi/ If you don't like a whole-wheat bread, this is a good in-between with a softer texture like white bread, but with whole-grain benefits. This makes great sandwich bread. Ingredients 1 3/4 cups lukewarm water 2 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoons canola oil 2 1/2 cups bread flour 2 cups whole wheat flour 2 teaspoons salt 1 1/2 teaspoons active ... http://www.kitchenimprov.net/2009/07/whole-grain-wheat-bread/ In May I vowed to quit buying commercial bread. Not only are the prices of my favorite brand skyrocketing ($4.59 to $5.29 per loaf), the company has recently started adding soy to their ingredients list. I did some research and reviewed my mom's stack of artisan bread recipes ... http://www.kitchenimprov.net/2009/07/adventures-in-breadmaking/ This is a flavorful twist on steamed rice and pairs nicely with a green, red, or panang curry. Ingredients 1 1/4 cup boiling water 2 Jasmine & Green Tea bags or sachets 1/4 tsp saffron threads 1 teaspoon raw (turbinado) sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup coconut milk (the lite variety will work for a reduced-fat result) 1 ... http://www.kitchenimprov.net/2009/07/coconut-jasmine-rice/