Heavenly Orange Rolls

Well, after Kim responded so enthusiastically to my last post, I had to share another great recipe. I admit, I have a thing for orange rolls, but even if you don't, these are fabulous. I've actually made them twice in less than a week. (Don't laugh. It's my comfort food while Kelly is gone. Less than two weeks to go...) Anyway, check them out on the blog "My Kitchen Cafe," here.

I've tried several of her recipes over the last few weeks. Her desserts and rolls are great. I've liked her main courses mostly, but my kids haven't been too thrilled--they appeal to more developed palates, I've decided.

Try them and let me know what you think!

Thanks, Aunt Melody!

I made Melody's Potato Asparagus Soup and it was AMAZING!! I'm so glad Melody is posting and I'm SO glad she put the recipe up. I want to make the things you guys are cooking, so post your recipes!!! Also, Melody, I loved that you put up a recipe that was in season. I already had asparagus on hand, because it was such a good price.

The soup was so fast and so delicious! I put PLENTY of cheese in mine, so it was a cheesy, potato-ey, asparagus-y delight. The only thing I might change in the future is to add my asparagus a little later, because mine was a little softer than I like it. But Byron loved the texture, so to each his own!!

One other note - "two cups of potatoes" is actually only about one large potato. I was completely over-ambitious in my potato peeling before I started to measure - oops! All those years of peeling potatoes for family dinner has really skewed my perception of potato measurements, I guess!

Is there such a thing as too much food?

I have been eating out lately. A lot. There are too many good places to eat in Portland. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
The Columbian Cafe is a little place in Astoria, Or near the coast. There are three booths and nine chairs at the bar which is really the kitchen where you can see the stove and the chef at work. He is a funny guy whom we overheard telling bar jokes about tequila.

We were lucky enough to come in right after a couple had left so we got one of the coveted booths, and people after us were turned away or asked to wait. They brought us some bread and oil and vinegar which was so delicious. The bread was dense, sweet, and moist. Different from what you would normally soak in oil and vinegar, but very tasty. We ordered and they brought us our drinks. I had honey milk, which is warm, and I have since made myself many times.
Next, the waitress brought us some texas toast style bread with an assortment of homemade jellies. Garlic, habenjero, jalapeno.There was also a very spicy pico de gio. I tried and loved them all but the garlic was so sweet and garlicy that it was the best.
When our food came they placed the dungeness crab, with lemon zest over fetticini in front of my friend Jared, and the portabella mushroom plate in front of me. With salmon. I do not like salmon and I did not order it. Almost immediately (probably at the sight of my surprised face) the waitress asked if that was wrong, and whisked it back to the kitchen, which is righ behind the bar, not four feet from us. She gave it to the chef who mumbled something about making a mistake, and set the plate on the stove. hard. it broke. I felt so bad, but his mood didn't last long, and the apologetic waitress soon brought me a brand new dish. Portabello mushrooms and garlic over hand rolled fetticini noodles. Now, I am a little newer to liking mushrooms, so I am very picky. These were the BEST I have ever had. they had been marinated and were think meaty slices. so robust! ha ha. They were excellent. I even tried the dungeness crab, which I don't like, and I loved every lemony bite! We should all head to Astoria this summer to check out the breakfast, which is supposed to be even better.

Asparagus Potato Soup

With asparagus at good prices these days, it is time for my favorite asparagus potato soup. I got this recipe from Quick Cooking magazine and it is definitely worth your time. I forgot to take a pic last time I made it, so you'll just have to take this one on faith. :-) Here goes:

Asparagus Potato Soup

2 c. diced peeled potatoes

1/2 lb. asparagus, chopped

1/2 c. chopped onion

2 celery ribs, chopped

1 T. chicken boullion granules

4 c. water

1/4 c. butter

1/2 c. flour

1 c. whipping cream

1/2 c. milk

1/2 t. salt

Dash of pepper

3/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese

In large sauce pan or soup kettle, combine the potatoes, asparagus, onion, celery, boullion and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until veggies are tender. Stir in butter.

In a bowl, combine the flour, cream, milk, salt and pepper until smooth; add to the veggie mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Garnish with cheese.

Cooking dinner

I've noticed that the number of compliments I receive from my children about the dinner I make is inversely proportional to the amount of time I spend making it.

For example:

Costco ravioli's with bottled spaghetti sauce--prep time 20 minutes--compliments: loads

Homemade chicken and corn chowder --prep time 1 1/2 hours--compliments: zip. zilch. nada.

I think I give up (especially because Kelly is gone for the next month).