Jazz - A Louisiana Kitchen

Heyyyyyyy:) So, it's been a while, I know.  BUT, when life gives you stuff to do, deadlines to make, and places to hang, the internet world sinks to the bottom of that "to do" list!! So, needless to say, it's been a while.  Anyways, I thought I would rate a restaurant for you since I haven't done that in a while either!!

There's actually a funny story behind this one: While on recent trip to Kansas City, some friends and I decided to try out a new restaurant.  We saw this place called "Jazz" while we were driving around and decided it would be something new and exciting to try since we were in a new state!!! Little did we know that there is actually one in Nebraska but we had never heard of it until we got home!!! So, we thought we were branching out, but we were closer to home than we knew!

As soon as I walked into "Jazz" I instantly loved the atmosphere of the place!!! It felt very southern to me and I loved the decor!! I came to realize that the place offered Cajun and Creole type food and I was very excited to try it!! I don't think I've ever really tried a whole Cajun or Creole meal!  When we were seated (which was right away) I began to look at the menu.  I immediately knew that finding a meal was going to be a tough choice for me since I was SO outside my comfort zone!! I barely knew what anything was on the menu!! I'm usually familiar with the ingredient lists below the item, but this one left me up the stream without a paddle (which is good in this case).
I finally chose a lunch item and then.... dun dun DUUUUHHHH, an appetizer, FROG LEGS! I had to pull out the mantra - Go big or go home, on this one!  I have never experienced so many emotions before trying something to eat... I was excited, nervous, angry (at myself for ordering them), scared, confused, speechless, and many, many more things to be exact.  If the thought of eating frog legs doesn't gross you out enough, wait until they are sitting in front of you - total mind game!  They look JUST like frog legs, except fried.  Maybe if the meat had been off the leg and I didn't have to pick up the leg and eat off of it, it wouldn't have been so bad.  But the fact that it looked like the real thing had me going.  But to wrap it up: I tried it. We tried it. Let's just say it tastes like a cross between fish and chicken... with a slime coating.  Yea... I can officially say I will not be eating those again... But it was an experience!! Here's a look:

Ribbit Ribbit....

Let's do this!!

Grrrrrr... 

Let's not do this again... good try though!

Okay, so the frog legs were a bust... Let's take a look at the other food I actually slightly enjoyed!  I love restaurants serve complementary starters; Personally it makes them seem more friendly and less-stingy; Because let's all face it, a burger and some french fries does not cost $12.  ANYWAYS, Jazz served some bread with their own style of buttery spread; which I really enjoyed.

I ended up ordering some kind of shrimp Jumbalaya, which I was not real impressed with to be honest.  I guess I didn't expect there to be HUGE chunks of crunchy celery and mushrooms.  As I mentioned before, I had never really tried a Cajun or Creole meal before, so I had no idea what it was like going into this.  I have to say, I wasn't a big fan of the food in general; but maybe I was ordering the wrong thing??? But I also find it funny that I had never heard of the restaurant here in Omaha even though I have lived here my whole life... So maybe this kind of food isn't all that popular?? I don't know, but it was definitely worth a try!!

I did have some diners with me that day as well, and they pretty much all felt the same way that I did about it... But then again, we aren't Cajun or Creole experts.  I will say that the overall feeling of the restaurant and the staff was all very nice!! I loved the atmosphere in general.  I can't speak for any of the other locations; but the one in Kansas City was very nice!! So, maybe next time you're in KC and are up for something new, give Jazz a try! Maybe you will like it!! By the way, the also serve gator:)

Btw: Here's the website for Jazz; Just a side note: They are all owned by separate owners, so they may be slightly different.

http://omaha.jazzkitchens.com/ - Omaha, NE Location
http://www.jazzkitchens.com/wb/ - Kansas City, MO Location (the one I visited)

Best Ice Cream Ever?

So, have you ever taste Ice Cream that just... You know, melts in your mouth?? Ha.  That's what happens to me whenever I enjoy my two favorites: Ted and Wally's (Omaha fave) and Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream.  That got me thinking, why are the best ice cream brands created by two people!?!? Just a thought... What if Ted and Ben created Ice Cream? Or Wally and Jerry? I think we would all be mind-blown.
I just wanted to share with you my favorite store-available ice cream flavor; for those hot summer nights!

PHISH FOOD!!! Although I'm not a huge fan of overly sweet treats, this one always hits the spot!! Although you must be careful, there are 4 servings in 1 pint!!! WHAT?! I know right?! 

Give it a try:) Or try a new flavor!! 

Btw, I also found out that Ben and Jerry's has ice cream stores!! But there is not one in NE! So does anyone want to open an ice cream shop?? PLEASE!?

Check them out:)

http://www.benjerry.com/

Risotto - Gordon Ramsay's Golden Dish

Have you ever watched "Hell's Kitchen" before?? Anyone?? If you have, I'm sure that you know who Gordon Ramsay is; He's the guy that you may have seen yelling and shouting out curse words for no good reason to everyone cooking in his kitchen.  One thing that he likes to yell about the most is how Risotto is cooked.  He gets soooo angry whenever someone messes up the risotto; whether it's mushy, too firm, too salty, not salty enough... You name it, he's probably screamed about it!
So even though Ramsay's shouting annoys me a bit, he got me thinking... What is risotto? Yes, I know what the main base of it is (rice), but I had never really tried making it and I have never tried it at a restaurant before.  So the other day when I was thinking of a side to make with some grilled chicken I instantly thought of trying out a risotto!  I flipped through my cookbooks and stumbled across a baked risotto.  Although not classic, I decided to try it out since I had never made it before! Supposedly, real risotto is a tad difficult to make! So this is an easier version!

Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tablespoons finely chopped onion
2 Cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 Cup uncooked Arborio rice
1 Can (14oz.) chicken broth
1/2 cup white wine or water
1 1/2 Cups frozen cut green beans, thawed and drained
1 Cup Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  Spray a 2.5 quart casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a 12 inch nonstick skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add onion, garlic and rosemary.  Cook 3 to 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring frequently, until onions begin to soften.
3. Add rice to the skillet.  Continue to cook about 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  After rice is slightly brown, add wine/water; heat to boiling.
4. Once mixture comes to a boil, remove from heat and pour into casserole dish (this was a bit difficult without splattering the liquid everywhere, as you can see on the sides of the casserole dish).
5. Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and place in the oven for 15 minutes.
6. After the first 15 minutes, remove from oven, uncover, and add green beans and 1/2 cup of the cheese.
7. Cover the dish once more and place back in the oven for another 10 - 15 minutes; Or until all liquid is absorbed.
8.  Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the leftover 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese. Serve and Enjoy!

Notes:  The original recipe called for mushrooms, but since that is one of the only foods I do not like I decided to omit them!
I also doubled the recipe and was able to fit it into one baking dish; and it still came out just fine!

The overall flavor was good, although someone commented that they would add a little less of the Rosemary next time they made it!  Although it isn't a traditional Risotto, it gave me a good idea of what the texture is supposed to be like and how it is supposed to taste; and it was SO much easier than a classic Risotto!

Let me know if you have any comments or questions and I will be happy to give you my best response! Good luck!

Green Mint Wonder Cookies

I have been very fortunate this week to be completely off work!! SO of course I would spend at least 1 day cooking!  When I was trying to decide what to make I was flipping through some cookbooks and stumbled on these cookies.  They caught my eye because green is my absolute favorite color!! Not to mention, they look pretty sweet (figuratively and literally)!
When I was making these cookies I was a little surprised by the outcome of the actual cookie; The dough was a little more soft and sticky than regular cookie dough, and the finished cookie is more like the texture of a sugar cookie.
Here's how to make these awesome looking cookies!

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract
2 egg yolks
16 drops green food color
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
3 Tablespoons whipping cream
3 Tablespoons butter
25 rectangular creme de menthe chocolate candies, unwrapped, cut diagonally (I used Andes mints)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Line cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.
2. In large bowl beat 1 cup butter and the powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.  Beat in peppermint extract, egg yolks, and food coloring until blended.
3. Beat in flour, baking powder and salt.
4. Shape dough into 1 inch balls; place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.
5. Using the end of a wooden spoon, press a deep hole into the center of the cookie.
6. Bake 10 - 12 minutes or until set.  Re-insert end of wooden spoon when you remove from the oven.  Allow to cool completely on a cooling rack.
7. While cookies cook, microwave chocolate chips, cream, and 3 Tablespoons of butter on high for 1 minute, stirring frequently until mixture is smooth.
8.  Fill each hole with melted chocolate and garnish with mint candy piece.
9. Let stand about 1 hour until chocolate is hardened. Enjoy!

Special Note: I had a TON of chocolate leftover after making this recipe!! I also made a double batch which seemed to be the perfect amount.

I think these cookies will be awesome to make around the holidays! You could color the cookies green and red and then put different colored mints on the top for the Christmas season! Have fun experimenting!

The Best of Betty Crocker. Reiman Media Group, Inc. 2011

Tomatillo Salsa Verde

So when you first looked at the title of this blog post you were probably thinking, "tomato." But let me tell you, a tomatillo is NOT a tomato!! Sure, there are some similarities, but they are not even in the same category of fruits/veggies!! So what is a tomatillo?? First off, a tomatillo looks like this:
                                                 
As you can see, it comes in a husk-like wrapper and it is green!  Before I started doing a lot of Mexican cuisine and cooking, I never realized or knew what tomatillos were!  However, now they are one of my favorite ingredients to use in cooking!! You can use tomatillos in just about everything! Salsas, sauces, stir-fries, and much much more!
When you decide to buy some tomatillos at the store it is important to make sure that they are completely encased in their shell.  This ensures that they are fresh and un-tampered with.  When peeling the tomatillos you may notice that your fingers will become sticky.  Tomatillos have a sticky substance inside of the husk that helps to ward of bugs! Interesting right?? Anyways, this is one of my favorite recipes that I use tomatillos in, and I hope you come to love them just as much as I do! Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 pound tomatillos, husked
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon freshly minced garlic
1 Serrano pepper
2 Tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro
1 Tablespoon freshly chopped oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt (you may need to add a bit more depending on your preference)
2 cups water

Directions:
1. Place tomatillos, onion, garlic, and pepper into a saucepan. Season with cilantro, oregano, cumin, and salt; pour in water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the tomatillos are soft, about 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Using a blender, carefully puree the boiled veggies, seasonings, and water in batches until smooth.

3. Refrigerate until cold; serve with tortilla chips or over tacos, enchiladas or anything else you may want!

*May refrigerate up to one week.

Bready Bread Breadsticks

Whenever I go to a restaurant where they serve unlimited breadsticks (Fazoili's or Olive Garden), I can pretty much be guaranteed an O.D. on carbs for the next month!  I LOVE carbs!! I love everything bready; breadsticks, rolls, bread... The list goes on and on... which leads me to one of my favorite recipes... Homemade BREADSTICKS!
I found these breadsticks online one time and absolutely fell in love with them!  They have turned out perfectly each time I have made them and they are really easy to make!

Here's how to make them if you're interested!

Ingredients

• 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup sugar, divided
• 2 cups warm water (110 degrees to 115 degrees), divided
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in 1 cup warm water. Add the oil, egg, salt, 2 cups flour, and remaining sugar and water. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 40 minutes.
2. Punch the dough down. Turn onto a floured surface; divide into 36 pieces. Shape each piece into a 6-in. rope. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 25 minutes.
3. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, cream the butter, Parmesan cheese and garlic powder. (www.allrecipes.com)

*Warning* This recipe makes about enough for 6 people! (Unless you plan on getting high on breadsticks, I would only make one batch)... They aren't too good re-heated.