everylittlebitt-blog

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Recipe 21: Sweet and Rich Muffins -- sometimes I have hypothetical conversations with Mark Bittman in my head. The recipe says, "Beat eggs and milk together" in a separate bowl, I say, "Ehh, I'll do it in the liquid measuring cup, I'm smarter than Mark Bittman." I am not, but the muffins turned out fine. . . . . . . . #cookeveryveg #cookeveryfruit #cooking #vegcooking #vegforlife #meatlesseveryday #cookbitt #cookingadventure #vegetarian #yum #veggienoms #veggielover #eatyourveggies #vegetarianmeals #howtocookeverythingvegetarian #markbittman https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx751lIgqfg/?igshid=a1uhg2y5u07

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Recipe 20: Espresso Black Bean Chili - this recipe was an exercise in *always read the recipe more than once*. We cooked the beans and scorched the coffee, but it was edible? We're thinking that cream cheese might even the taste profile out. . . . . . . . #cookeveryveg #cookeveryfruit #cooking #vegcooking #vegforlife #meatlesseveryday #cookbitt #cookingadventure #vegetarian #yum #veggienoms #veggielover #eatyourveggies #vegetarianmeals #howtocookeverythingvegetarian #markbittman #whatsfordinner #vegetariandinner https://www.instagram.com/p/BxtJ9CGnT2d/?igshid=1gifnw4z50467

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Recipe 19: Simplest Dal -- he wasn't kidding, it really is easy! Dump everything in a pot, summer, and wait for those lentils to cook! I used yellow instead of red because that's what I had. . . . . . . #cookeveryveg #cookeveryfruit #cooking #vegcooking #vegforlife #meatlesseveryday #cookbitt #cookingadventure #vegetarian #yum #veggienoms #veggielover #eatyourveggies #vegetarianmeals #howtocookeverythingvegetarian #markbittman #whatsfordinner #vegetariandinner https://www.instagram.com/p/BxqqvBeHhbx/?igshid=ehhsbthi7366

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Recipe 18: Cabbage Stuffed with Rice and Lentils (p. 400) -- really fussy, the cabbage leaves did not want to cooperate, and the stuffing was a little bland. The star was really the ooey gooey cheese (sriracha gouda). BUT it prompted us to think that we could spice the innards any way we want, really. The textures and preparation are sound. . . . . . #cookeveryveg #cookeveryfruit #cooking #vegcooking #vegforlife #meatlesseveryday #cookbitt #cookingadventure #vegetarian #yum #veggienoms #veggielover #eatyourveggies #vegetarianmeals #howtocookeverythingvegetarian #markbittman #whatsfordinner #vegetariandinner https://www.instagram.com/p/BsaramRHRBy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17sb6282q8sas

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Recipe??: French Toast (p. 177) -- it's raining outside, so here, have some moody French toast. Using French bread baked yesterday and left out in slices overnight, this was a high quality Monday breakfast. . . . . . . #cookeveryveg #cookeveryfruit #cooking #vegcooking #vegforlife #meatlesseveryday #cookbitt #cookingadventure #vegetarian #yum #veggienoms #veggielover #eatyourveggies #vegetarianmeals #howtocookeverythingvegetarian #markbittman #breakfasting #whatsforbreakfast https://www.instagram.com/p/BsVez0dH9bW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dou1w3g2j4yx

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Recipe 15: Cottage Cheese and Sour Cream Pancakes (p. 202) -- Strangest thing I've ever made, I think. Delicious served with hot sauce or BBQ sauce and VERY filling. . . . . . . #cookeveryveg #cookeveryfruit #cooking #vegcooking #vegforlife #meatlesseveryday #cookbitt #cookingadventure #vegetarian #yum #veggienoms #veggielover #eatyourveggies #vegetarianmeals #howtocookeverythingvegetarian #markbittman #whatsfordinner #vegetariandinner https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo9CQ-yFcZi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1uvzexm9niore

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Procrastinating

Okay, so I’m in grad school. Commonly accepted as “more difficult than undergraduate study,” grad school is also notorious for sucking people into their studies and spitting them out in fancy almost wizard robes after 2-3 years. 

So because I feel like this:

...I’ve been baking. I baked muffins for my landlords and my future roommate, and I baked cookies for my study group that’s (hopefully) happening today. Not to mention the spectacular streak I’ve been on with posting every day for three days in a row. It’s magical, right?

On the one hand, yes. Very magical. I feel productive, I’m fed with yummy food, and I’m contributing to a creative project that’s been sidelined for a long time. There’s something about photographing food that’s a relief after reading long, dry texts and writing long, dry imposter syndrome filled papers. I think I may have stumbled upon a new hobby.

On the other hand, no. Well, okay, kinda no. It’s magical, but at what cost? I’m taking pictures of cookies so I can post them on Instagram instead of a) reading for class, b) finishing the paper that scares the pants off me, and c) studying for the midterm that also scares me. 

Isn’t avoidance-induced cooking grand?

Luckily, because my grandparents are coming to visit today, I have a goal: finish this evil paper before they arrive. That gives me 2-3 hours to spruce up this paper, brush my teeth, and make myself look like something resembling a human.

We shall see.

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Recipe 15: Oatmeal Apple Cookies (p. 405) -- Not the prettiest cookies I've ever made, but damn tasty. . . . . . . #cookeveryveg #cookeveryfruit #cooking #vegcooking #vegforlife #meatlesseveryday #cookbitt #cookingadventure #vegetarian #yum #veggienoms #veggielover #eatyourveggies #vegetarianmeals #howtocookeverythingvegetarian #markbittman #vegetariandessert #cookies #procrastibaking https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo6jES0FNxg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1h3qfzqnm6855

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Recipe 14: White Rice (p. 505) -- it's a wee crunchy, I think I may have rushed it because hunger. But I used vegetable broth and it's very yummy. . . . . . . #cookeveryveg #cookeveryfruit #cooking #vegcooking #vegforlife #meatlesseveryday #cookbitt #cookingadventure #vegetarian #yum #veggienoms #veggielover #eatyourveggies #vegetarianmeals #howtocookeverythingvegetarian #markbittman #whatsfordinner #vegetariandinner https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo5Ih09lyZv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=guj266y6v4os

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Recipe 13: Fast Tomato Sauce (p. 445) -- Solo dinner tonight calls for something quick. Did I forget to chop the tomatoes before throwing them in the skillet? Yes. Yes I did. . . . . . . #cookeveryveg #cookeveryfruit #cooking #vegcooking #vegforlife #meatlesseveryday #cookbitt #cookingadventure #vegetarian #yum #veggienoms #veggielover #eatyourveggies #vegetarianmeals #howtocookeverythingvegetarian #markbittman #whatsfordinner #vegetariandinner https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo2cXGvFB4M/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12t1txopehb9p

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Recipe 12: Baked Potato (p. 339) - SO. Easy. Did both the classic and the salted variation. Creamy and delicious. Definitely will make again. 🤤 . . . . . . #cookeveryveg #cookeveryfruit #cooking #vegcooking #vegforlife #meatlesseveryday #cookbitt #cookingadventure #vegetarian #yum #veggienoms #veggielover #eatyourveggies #vegetarianmeals #howtocookeverythingvegetarian #markbittman #whatsfordinner #vegetariandinner #photobyme #editedbyme https://www.instagram.com/p/BnKleIXFVyJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=abwfxecqs547

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Recipe 11: Traditional Pesto (p. 768) Probably one of my favorite ways to eat basil because who can go wrong with that amount of cheese? Bittman lists walnuts instead of pine nuts which makes my wallet sing in gratitude. What are your favorite ways to use basil? . . . . . #cookeveryveg #cookeveryfruit #cooking #vegcooking #vegforlife #meatlesseveryday #cookbitt #cookingadventure #vegetarian #yum #veggienoms #veggielover #eatyourveggies #vegetarianmeals #howtocookeverythingvegetarian #markbittman #whatsfordinner #vegetariandinner #editedbyme

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Cookbook Challenges

My mother-in-law is doing a cookbook challenge as well. She’s using Deborah Madison’s Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. Cooking a recipe every week using 15 page chunks to determine which vegetables to feature, she’s been keeping up with the challenge pretty admirably. I’ve sampled a couple of her dishes, and I’m excited to break out my own copy for experiments.

I wonder what prompts us to try cookbook challenges like these. I was inspired by Julie & Julia and my own attempts to learn how to cook vegetables (and fruits) that I’ve never cooked before. The monumental task of cooking through a chunkster of a book like How to Cook Everything Vegetarian is definitely a lifetime’s worth of cooking if I continue the way that I have been, cooking sporadically. 

ANYWAY. I’m also honing my photography skills through photographing these efforts. Have I found new and exciting ways to compose my photos? Not quite yet, but I am getting better at editing photos!

I guess what I’m getting at here with this musing is that challenges seem to manifest themselves uniquely and roll up related challenges (ie. photography or feeding family). 

What challenges do we choose to pursue? How do we choose those challenges?

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Recipe 10: Jean-George's rice noodle salad with grapefruit and peanuts (p. 94) - The most fiddly thing I've ever done for a pasta salad is section and peel grapefruit. Beautiful (and delicious) results even though I ignored Bittman's advice to eat pasta salad immediately....we're road tripping, what do you want from me?! . . . . . . . . #cookeveryveg #cookeveryfruit #cooking #vegcooking #vegforlife #meatlesseveryday #cookbitt #cookingadventure #vegetarian #yum #veggienoms #veggielover #eatyourveggies #vegetarianmeals #howtocookeverythingvegetarian #markbittman #whatsforlunch #vegetarianlunch (at Iowa)

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Well that looks gorgeous. 

Skillet Cinnamon Buttermilk Bread w/ Vanilla Bean Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

[everylittlebitt-blog]

Recipe 9: Pasta with Garlic and Oil and Chickpeas (p. 444)- super easy lunch time recipe. I fancied it up with parmesan and red pepper flakes.

[everylittlebitt-blog]

It’s really lucky that cookies are vegetarian...