almondjoy’s Profile
Recent Comments
lots of leftover 2% milk - recipe ideas?
How about some rice pudding (Kheer)? Super simple and affordable plus you don't have to stand at the stove forever.
1 half gallon milk
1/2 cup long grain rice, soaked in luke warn water for 30-45 minutes.
1 1/2 cups sugar
3-4 cardamom pods
1/2 slivered almonds, pistachios
1/2 tsp rose water (optional)
a few threads of Saffron (optional)
Boil milk over medium heat, once it comes to a bubble turn the heat down and simmer for almost two hours, reducing the milk. Add cardamom.
drain the soaking rice, slightly crush them with a wooden spoon. add to the milk and cook until the rice is throughtly cooked and integrated into the milk. Stir frequently to avoid burning. Add the slivered almonds, add sugar and bring it to another bubble. Taste test. Turn off the heat. Add rose water and saffron, if using. Pour into serving dishes and sprinkle more slivered almonds. Cool to room temp, then refrigerate.
The most awesome deep dish in Chicago?
I agree, the Lincolnwood loation is the best. For transportation, chicago has pretty good public transportation and PACE buses are very reliable.
Any Bring-From-Home Snack Ideas?
I don't have a desk job since I work in a hospital setting. So, I keep snacks that won't spoil and can be eaten anytime and anywhere such as coffee-coated almonds, nuts, whole grain crackers, dry cereal, sugar-free granola, dried fruits, freeze-dried berries, string cheese, etc.
See more comments by almondjoy »
Recent Posts
almondjoy hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
almondjoy hasn't favorited a post yet.
Recent Polls
almondjoy hasn't answered any polls yet.
Recent Quizzes
almondjoy hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Pioneer Woman, Smitten Kitchen and Food Librarian
lots of leftover 2% milk - recipe ideas?
How about some rice pudding (Kheer)? Super simple and affordable plus you don't have to stand at the stove forever.
1 half gallon milk
1/2 cup long grain rice, soaked in luke warn water for 30-45 minutes.
1 1/2 cups sugar
3-4 cardamom pods
1/2 slivered almonds, pistachios
1/2 tsp rose water (optional)
a few threads of Saffron (optional)
Boil milk over medium heat, once it comes to a bubble turn the heat down and simmer for almost two hours, reducing the milk. Add cardamom.
drain the soaking rice, slightly crush them with a wooden spoon. add to the milk and cook until the rice is throughtly cooked and integrated into the milk. Stir frequently to avoid burning. Add the slivered almonds, add sugar and bring it to another bubble. Taste test. Turn off the heat. Add rose water and saffron, if using. Pour into serving dishes and sprinkle more slivered almonds. Cool to room temp, then refrigerate.
The most awesome deep dish in Chicago?
I agree, the Lincolnwood loation is the best. For transportation, chicago has pretty good public transportation and PACE buses are very reliable.
Any Bring-From-Home Snack Ideas?
I don't have a desk job since I work in a hospital setting. So, I keep snacks that won't spoil and can be eaten anytime and anywhere such as coffee-coated almonds, nuts, whole grain crackers, dry cereal, sugar-free granola, dried fruits, freeze-dried berries, string cheese, etc.
Cook the Book: 'Mrs. Rowe's Little Book of Southern Pies'
best: super flaky apple pie crust (if you blew into the crust, you could seperate the layers).
worst: ricotta cherry bundt (forgot the sugar)
Cook the Book: 'Bobby Flay's Burgers, Fries & Shakes'
good quality beef with grated onion, salt and pepper, cooked to medium-rare perfection. Only to be topped with superb provolone cheese, carmalized onions, chipotle ketchup and a toasty bun. Accompined by Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside french fries and an ice cold ginger ale with a twist of lime to wash it all down. This would be my last meal on earth.
Cook the Book: 'Rustic Fruit Desserts'
my favorite dessert is anything fruit and sugar. But if I have to pick one it would be apple pie or apple crisp (oops, that's two, but who's counting, right ;-)
At what point does a recipe become your own?
I usually read recipes for inspiration for something that I want to create. I never follow the recipe as is, even if I am making it for the first time. So, does that make it mine? Maybe. However, I always give credit to the person or magazine where the inpiration came from. For example, a patient of mine, a chef, gave me a simple recipe for wild rice, peppers and beans salad which I play around with all the time. I make it so often and have passed the recipe along to so many people that they think I came up with the recipe. So, I always tell people that someone gave me the recipe, I just tweak it from time to time.
How much salt is too much salt?
I agree that restaurant food is agressively salted, especially soups and breads. Good quality salt or bad, salt is salt and a little bit goes a long way. Salt should enhance the flavor of ingredients in the dish, not overpower them.
Cook the Book: 'Baking Unplugged'
My first attempt at lemon yogurt loaf made everybody pucker up. Boy, was it sour or what? Never underestimate the power of lemon juice. If the recipe says, 1 teaspoon use a teaspoon, never a tablespoon.
Cook the Book: 'The Bon Appétit Fast Easy Fresh Cookbook'
anything mom makes, of course that's the fastest. However, if I am cooking, I like to make stir fry.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Edible Chocolate Box from Charles Chocolates
Do I only have to pick one? It's not fair to the rest of the chocolate dessert I like. I would have to say chocolate molten lava cake or chocolate chip cookies.
Cook the Book: 'Baked, New Frontiers in Baking'
my mom's rice or oatmeal pudding. It's still my favorite.
Cook the Book: 'Martha Stewart's Cooking School'
chocolate with espresso cookies
Cook the Book: 'Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics'
Wild&Original Rice, Three bean and Peppers salad with a lots of fresh herbs and toasted cumin. (WoW! that's a mouthful, but so is this salad which is unbelivably amazing). I take it to work all the time and co-workers request it for the next event before the container is even empty. (about 30 minutes for 24 people to finish a 5 pound batch).
iced mint tea
@perkymac-I make my sweet tea exactly the way you do.
Sometimes, I make simple syrup with mint in it. Cool it down, add lemon juice and put it in ice tray to add to tea or lemonade whenever I want. It melts slowly and incorporates in the batch over time. It tastes very good especially for BBQ parties.
Your Typical Breakfast: Weekday and Weekend
@--dafly133: I want to live at your house with all those fruit trees. I love fruits, any fruit and every piece of fruit I can eat.
I love breakfast, I don't want my patients to hear my stomach growling and rumbling. Although, I am not sure if they can hear it, since almost all of them are hard of hearing.
My mom makes my breakfast during weekday, uncle bob museli (whole wheat berries, oats, tracle-i think that's what its called, sunflower seeds, almonds, dates and raisins) with skim milk or water OR a banana with almond butter. 2 hard-boiled egg whites.
On weekends, I eat an early lunch around 11 am.
Name 5 THINGS ALWAYS in Your FRIDGE!
milk/yogurt
ketchup
peanut butter
cheese
produce(any kind...)
What do you bring to lunch to eat at your desk?
I recently lost about 42 pounds by exercising and portion control especially at lunch time. I used to eat lunch with all my co-workers at the table. Alway accompanied by dessert. So, I took control and stopped eating at the table and started eating at my desk. My lunch favorites are non-fat yogurt with frozen berries or other frozen fruits that I thaw in the refrigerator overnight. A couple slices of whole wheat bread with light Laughing Cow cheese. Organic low-fat soups in a can. Veggie and bean salads. Fruits and nuts. For snack attack, I keep almonds, peanuts and dried fruits handy.
Burnin' Down the House in Chicago, Pakistani Osso Bucco-Style
Michael,
I am from Pakistan. My mom is an awsome cook and very picky when it comes to restaurants. One place even she likes is Chopal on Devon Avenue. Their Chili Chicken is very good. Pullao, meat and rice cooked together.
Usmania is another for "Matka Ghost".
I hope you will try these places and like them.
Burnin' Down the House in Chicago, Pakistani Osso Bucco-Style
Nihari is actually very easy to make at home. You can buy "Shan Nihari" mix if you are a Nihari novice. Buy good quality Nihari beef from any pakistani grocery store with shanks and get to work. It literally cooks on its on own once you brown the meat. You can even make it in a slow cooker for 5-10 hours. The longer the meat cooks, the better. It needs to fall of the bones and melt in the gravy. Serve with Naan. And yes, a nap is a must!
What popular foods do you hate?
I hate slimy tuna salad made with run-of-the-mill greasy mayo. Now, don't get me wrong, I love tuna fish, just not smothered in mayo.
Never put ____ on my pizza!
Nothing but fresh tomatoes, basil and cheese.
'I Drank your Milkshake!'
the best milkshake i ever had, was made with toasted almond ice cream and it was thick enough to eat with a spoon.
Recipe ideas for someone new to the US?
i fell in love with mac & cheese, the moment i got off the plane.
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Hard to choose. I started out in food blog land with I Was Just Hungry.
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Thank you for participating, and congratulations to our winners:
nmallory
RossS
merckurybubbles
Sharon H.
wwe11
Winners have been notified by email and also appear on our Contest Winners page.
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Divine Caroline is one of my favs
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Serious Eats and The Wicked Noodle. Looks like a lot of people like Smitten Kitchen, so I'm going to have to check that out!
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Serious Eats & Chocolate & Zucchini.
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Serious Eats and The Wicked Noodle. Looks like a lot of people like Smitten Kitchen, so I'm going to have to check that out!
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Serious Eats and The Wicked Noodle. Looks like a lot of people like Smitten Kitchen, so I'm going to have to check that out!
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
I like Serious Eats of course. I also like Smitten Kitchen.
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
My favorite food blogs are this one and Culinate.
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Serious Eats is my favorite. Simply Recipes is my second favorite.
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Baking Bites and Simply Recipes. I want to cook and eat pretty much everything from these sites!!
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
I love so many sites. I love Serious Eats (of course), PW's and any cake blog. I have a major sweet tooth.
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
A year of slow cooking!
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Simply Recipes!
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Simply Recipes!
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Besides Serious Eats, I go to PWC and Chow
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Pioneer Woman Cooks is one I go to all the time.. love the step by step pictures and delicious home cooked meals :)
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Pioneer Woman Cooks is one I go to all the time.. love the step by step pictures and delicious home cooked meals :)
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/ is one of my favorites (along with SE, of course!) - her entire blog receives several visits a day from me as I check to see if there is anything new - I discovered this delightful site this summer - I've tried several of her recipes, and am smitten - I'd really love to win her cookbook!
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Serious Eats has been my go to site for a long time...consistent quality, informed contributors, great topics. What's not to love!
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
PWC is my favorite. A second would be Bakerella.
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
i love serious eats!
Cook the Book: 'The Pioneer Woman Cooks'
Why, what other than Serious Eats?!?
Recent Posts
almondjoy hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
almondjoy hasn't favorited a post yet.
Polls
almondjoy hasn't answered any polls yet.
Quizzes
almondjoy hasn't taken any quizzes yet.

Pioneer Woman, Smitten Kitchen and Food Librarian