Suzanne Thompson » Food

Matzo Balls

Suzanne — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 18:27:21 +0000

One time when I was in NC, Bob had some Matzo balls for our supper. I hadn’t tried them before, but really enjoyed them. This evening our Pastor’s wife made supper for the group that was handing out there. She had me help roll them. I’m glad she showed me how as I didn’t know that they got big during the cooking process. I would have rolled them the size of the ones Bob had served me and they would have been the size of large dumplings after they had cooked!

Homemade Pizza

Suzanne — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:11:47 +0000

I haven’t cooked with a microwave/convection oven before, and as that’s all there is in the guest house that we’re living in, I decided to try make some pizza in it. It actually turned out really good.

Hello Kitty Cake Pops

Suzanne — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 07:03:47 +0000

Today I had fun making cake pops for a three year olds “Hello Kitty” themed birthday party.

I did a trial run a few days ago (click here to see) to learn how to make them. I also ready how to make them on Bakerella’s blog. Bakeralla has a book that is sold in Williams-Sonoma stores and Amazon that also shows how to make cake pops. Here is how I made them…sorry, didn’t take pictures until part way through!
I used a strawberry cake mix and strawberry frosting. Formed them into an egg shape. While they were chilling, I made the bows with some pre-colored fondant icing. To cut the shape, I formed my own little cutter so they would be consistent.

I also used a little cutter (that I bought in England years ago) to cut and shape these little flowers. I then inserted tiny candy coated chocolate chip into the center of the flour with a little melted chocolate.

Before dipping, I attached some chocolate chips to the “heads” with melted chocolate, to become the ears AND inserted some popsicle sticks using a little melted chocolate. I then dipped the kitty’s in a tall mug of melted white chocolate.

One done…lots more to go!

Lots more done

All made, not just to wrap!

All wrapped and tied with a ribbon, then arranged in an apothecary jar ready to take to the party

Williams-Sonoma Classes

Suzanne — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 05:44:17 +0000

On Sundays, the local Williams-Sonoma store offers complimentary technique classes with recipe handouts, food prep demonstrations and sampling. I have gone to three of the classes: Cooking from the farmers market (summer vegetables that are in season, summer sauces, and fall baking. I have enjoyed the classes and have tried some of the recipes. At the classes, I have also taken a few pictures with my iPhone. The first picture makes me laugh (even though it’s blurry)! Look at the expressions on the ladies faces…a look of awe and disbelief! But, if you look at what is on the stove, it’s only an ear of corn getting grilled on a skillet. I wish I could remember what she might have said that had captured their attention, but I’m hoping it was more than discussing how to turn the corn with the tongs that she is holding. I was too busy getting a picture to send to Bob so he could see what he was missing! “Ladies, when you get ready to turn your corn put both rubber sections of either side of the ear, applying pressure as you grasp the metal end of the tongs as I am now demonstrating to you. Rotate your wrist, then release from your grasp, making sure you still have the tongs in your hand so it doesn’t fall to the stove”. Really? So that’s how it’s done…Oooooh!!!

Just recently I enjoyed reading the book Trading Up. One section told about the history of the store, some of the marketing tactics and discussed their food classes, so it made the classes fun to attend by knowing “the rest of the story”. Did the marketing tactics work on me? No for the second two classes, but the first time, I bought a DeLongi gelato maker at 50% clearance + more off with a gift certificate. But, the gelato maker deserves a post all on its own at a later time.

This was the sampling plate from the farmer’s market class…roasted corn salad, fresh salsa, guacamole, and corn fritters.

These next two pictures were taken at the fall baking class. Apple coffee cake and pumpkin bread made in a molded baking pan. The apple coffee cake was delicious. On the way home, I bought the ingredients so that I can take some to work later this week.

Happy Birthday to Ryan, Sherelle and Bob

Suzanne — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:16:57 +0000

Today was Ryan’s birthday, last Saturday, it was Sherelle’s birthday and on Thursday, it will be Bob’s birthday. What a great reason to celebrate with three three Baskin Robbins ice cream cakes! We will be spending the weekend together in Capital Reef, UT in the RV…more pictures later.

Whole Foods Market

Suzanne — Fri, 28 May 2010 06:02:37 +0000

When I’m in the Costa Mesa area, I always enjoy going to Whole Foods Market. I love their selection of fruits, vege’s, cheeses and bakery items. I always browse through the bakery section just to see what they have. This evening, I purchased this colorful fruit tart. Bob arrives this evening, so we can both enjoy this special treat this weekend.

Birthday Celebration

Suzanne — Sat, 15 May 2010 16:21:42 +0000

This evening, Bob took me the Farm Artisan Foods Restaurant in Redlands, CA for my birthday. Last year, we met for the first time on my birthday and he took me there. As it was our first date, we only had a iPhone camera with us. Click here to see last years post. Now a year later, we are married…what a difference a year makes! Just like last year, he spoke with the chef to request they make a non-menus dessert for my birthday…strawberry shortcake. It was delicious with a not too sweet biscuit style cake with a sugary crackly top, then filled with fresh cream and strawberries.

Tofurious and Tomato Mozzarella Salad

Suzanne — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 06:19:23 +0000

The speaker for Thursday evenings OC SmugMug Meeting was Tofurious. Before he started his presentation, we were able to look at a copy of the Grace Ormond book, “being in love never goes out of style“. It’s a large, 416 page, 10+ pound book of gorgeous wedding photographs. As the book was so large, we were quickly looking through it as fast as the pages would turn. One picture that caught my eye was a tomato, mozzarella and fresh basil salad. I bought the ingredients to recreate the salad, and here is my version. When Bob and I have eaten at nice Italian restaurants, the balsamic vinegar is always thick, unlike the water substance on the grocery store shelves. So, I put some in a pan and simmered it to keep the flavor, but thicken the sauce…the result was sweet flavor like the high end restaurants. Now I just need to learn how the teardrop drizzles are put on the plate!

Speaking of Grace Ormond, we were told that the following picture from our January wedding has been submitted for a cover competition for her wedding magazine. So, if it wins and you see the picture on the cover, then you’ll know who it is!

Truffle Oil

Suzanne — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:28:13 +0000

I’m so excited that our North Carolina home is only five minutes from a Whole Foods Market as our California home is 80 miles from the closest store. Last weekend, Bob and I went to the local store. We were looking for some olive oil and I discovered these bottles of truffle olive oil that were originally $25 a bottle…but were marked waaaay down! As you can see, we bought several bottles. When we were on our honeymoon in Bora Bora, the chef at our resort made us a great risotto with truffle oil. It was delicious (even though I’m not a big fan of mushrooms), so I decided to look for some of the specialty oil.

Happy Valentines Day!

Suzanne — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:13:50 +0000

Bob was in North Carolina and I was in California today, but we planned a fun activity together. Neither of us had made Risotto before, so I found a recipe called Spring Green Risotto that sounded good by Barefoot Contessa (click here for the recipe). We both bought the ingredients then cooked our Valentine’s meal “together” 2,500 miles apart using iChat. I had never bought fennel before so didn’t even know what to look for in the store! We both had lots of fun make and eating our gourmet meal.

Here Bob is showing me the salad he made to accompany his risotto.