is anyone out there?

i think there are a few of you because:
someone called me dessert lady last week
and i just found this: http://midd-blog.com/2009/10/09/is-it-even-worth-checking-menus-anymore/
and matt birnbaum is grilling his onions without shame
and i think the field hockey team knows whats up
and bianca giaever sent me this text today: "i know how to make pad thai!!"

all i gotta say is i hope you grilled your cookies today...

p.s. get inspired to make better salads!!! here are a few examples of salads from the new york times article below....
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/dining/22mlist.html?_r=1

the best advice EVER: grill your cookies

i really see no other choice.
just like with the pancakes, you can put anything and everything between your two cookies. except not anything, if you know what i mean

Chocolate and Banana Grilled Cookie Sandwich

- 2 oatmeal raisin cookies

- 1 banana

- 1 tbs chocolate chips

- soft serve ice cream and chocolate sauce to taste

so easy. layer banana slices and chocolate chips on one cookie. put the other on top and panini that shit. for five minutes. add your ice cream/soft serve topping to taste. be prepared to make again. and again and again and again.

p.s. a new tina fey interview?! thanks sue.
http://www.harpersbazaar.com/magazine/cover/tina-fey-interview-1109

indian food?! YES.

today i just can't stop. i am too excited about taking and posting photos.

Indian Grill - curry tofu kebabs with curried yogurt and grilled vegetables:



(i really don't know how much seasoning i used. use however much you want!)

- a few pieces of tofu
- 2 tbs honey
- chopped apple
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt
- lots of curry powder
- sprinkle of dark chili powder
- some cinnamon sugar
- 1 tbs canola oil
- onions
- peppers
- raisins

use the tea stirrers as kebab skewers. dip the tofu in the honey and then skewer them, along with pieces of apple. sprinkle on curry powder, cinnamon and dark chili powder as you like, and put on the grill. spread the canola oil (from the end of the salad bar) on the grill, and add the onions, peppers and raisins, and whatever other vegetables you might want. again add curry, cinnamon and chili powder. while these cook, make your yogurt from the same spices, plus some honey! add some of the yogurt to the skewers as the tofu cooks. serve it all together.

p.s. best radio show with the best intro theme song ever!!!
http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=1131300114&share_id=148361287786&comments=1#/group.php?gid=52733167082&ref=ts

get yo pancake on

pancakes on the panini machine are simple, messy, and delicious.
thank you casey knudsen of gifford/albany, ca for your help. to quote your sweatshirt, DON'T MESS.

all you need are a few ingredients! above is a banana raspberry pancake, but you can use MANY other ingredients - any type of jam, honey, chocolate chips, cream cheese (this works really well), peanut butter, brown sugar, apple slices, cinnamon, an oatmeal raisin cookie, cottage cheese, applesauce....

Banana Raspberry Pancake

- one english muffin

- 1 cup of milk

- one banana

- 2 tps raspberry jam

- 1 packet of butter

- sprinkle of brown sugar

soak the english muffin in milk while you get the other ingredients ready. slice the banana. take one half of the (very wet) english muffin and spread the jam, then layer banana slices on top. coat your cooking space on the panini machine with butter, and then place half your english muffin there. add the other half, and place the piece of butter on top, so that it also coats the top (note that these pancakes can get really sticky, just use the scraper to clean up afterwards). grill for about 5 minutes. when the pancake is ready, add more banana slices and sprinkle some brown sugar on top.

MAKE KEBOBS ON THE PANINI MACHINE

use the wooden tea stirrers (find them at the tea table) as skewers, make your own rubs and sauces... it's a WHOLE NEW WORLD. i'll post some recipes/ideas soon.

quick notes

1. i never thought about this before last night, but apparently some anonymous people (freshman!) don't know how to make a panini. like, they actually get confused about the process of assembling one. in fact, a really nice freshman recently told me, "seriously, i just don't get it. can you post step by step instructions? i'm really lost."

so i guess here's an answer: do not attempt fancy tortilla folds or panini bundles, or whatever else is possible. just get a big white lavash, put stuff on top, and fold it in half. the end.

2. grill your onions on top of your panini with whatever sauce you used inside the panini or with balsamic vinegar and olive oil or honey or butter. just do it. please.