Scooped: Smokey S'mores Ice Cream

Photo by Brinn Willis {BMW} Photography

Our blog started about 5 or so years ago as a family blog, and since then it has served as some combo of food/family/sewing blog depending on our moods. Now it is mostly sewing blog, which is as it should be, Holli is the talented one in this family with her awesome sewing skills. She is taking the blog by storm, but every so often I flex my creative muscles, hijack her blog, and post about what I am passionate about...ICE CREAM! So from now on consider this a subcategory of the Stitched blog called Scooped. In an odd way ice cream and handmade clothes have a couple things in common: 1) They are homemade and 2) a lot of people would rather just buy them instead of making them themselves. 

That being said, let's get to the heart of the matter. My newest flavor, Smokey S'mores.

I have a love hate relationship with s'mores. I like the idea of them. I like the social hang by the fire vibe, casually toasting your marshmallows on a stick and the combination of crunchy graham cracker, with toasty charred marshmallow and rich delicious chocolate seems like a match made in heaven. However I feel the execution is flawed. When you bite in, the graham cracker crumbles and the whole thing falls apart.

Common Cooking Mistakes

If you are a faithful reader of our blog you have noticed that there was a huge gap where there wasn't much posted on our blog. Holli and I both have agreed it is time to get back blogging. With vacation and Charly being sick for two weeks out of three, we have had to just hang on to our sanity. So I thought this blog post could be about mistakes.

We all make cooking mistakes. Let’s face it even the best of us mess up. Holli would be able to tell you stories about me; they always end with me stomping around angrily. Sometimes our mistakes are quick fixes and some turn our meal into a sinking ship. I admit I have had to abandon a meal because it was too far gone and just order pizza. Some of our mistakes we learn from, and others we keep repeating because we don’t know where we went wrong. Don’t let these mistakes discourage you in the kitchen. Life will go on and delivery is only a dial away. What makes a good…well anything in life is being able to pick yourself up and learn from it.

I ran across this article in Cooking Light and thought it would be good to pass on to you (our readers). There are many of these I have learned from the hard way and many others I haven’t done, but don’t want to in the future. I think many of you will be surprised how many cooking no-noes we make. I’m guilty of the over softening butter a lot! What are you most guilty of?

Cooking Lights 30 Most Common Cooking Mistakes

Meat Grinder

This post kind of sounds like the title to a bad horror movie or maybe the name of a WWE wrestler, but it is actually about grinding meat, which may or may not be more exciting to you than pro wrestling. Grinding my own meat has been on my culinary bucket list for quite some time now, so when I got a meat grinding attachment for our Kitchen Aid from Holli's mom all my grinding dreams came true.

Beef Tagine with Butternut Squash

I have been holding on to this recipe for a cold winter's day. It looks so rustic and warms me up inside just by looking at it.

Ice Cream...It's a Year Round Sort of Thing!

I know what you are thinking, why post about Ice Cream in December? To my defense I would add: 1) Holli  scored a little tiny ice cream maker at the thrift store for only a couple bucks. 2) I can and will eat ice cream all year round. 3) Who cares, this is my blog and I will post what ever I want!

This sweet ice cream maker purchase couldn't have come at a better time because I just saw an awesome recipe from Cooks Illustrated...I know it's like Sports Illustrated, but with food, and wait till you see the centerfolds...WOW-ZA! Anyhoo, I decided to try the new recipe and couldn't have been happier. They take a different approach to get the best, creamiest, and crystal free ice cream possible. It did not fail to impress this ice cream connoisseur...and by connoisseur I mean guy who really likes to eat ice cream!

So if you don't mind making ice cream in the winter give this a go. You will need an ice cream maker for this...sorry. I would buy one if you don't own one yet, you can't go wrong with homemade ice cream.

Vanilla Ice Cream
Cook Illustrated 

Baked Spaghetti Squash with Garlic & Butter

Holli and I have different feelings about cooking. I love to cook and because I love it I like to make things that take a long time and are more complex. Holli on the other hand, doesn't really like cooking, so she is looking for something quick and easy. We both, however, ultimately try for the same thing...good food. Holli has been doing a great job finding great meals that are also in her style of cooking.

I have a cousin who is a dedicated reader of the blog. She has been a vegan for many years and for some reason she reads all the posts even though almost every dish I post has meat in it. So Kelly this recipe goes out to you. I know it's not a true vegan recipe, but they do make vegan butter and vegan Parmesan cheese. So you may have to do some substituting. Spaghetti squash is an excellent replacement to pasta and as a bonus is gluten free. So if you want to try something new that is really easy and cheap to make...here you go!

Source

We are Thankful for...FOOD!

Before I fall deep into a food coma I thought I would do a quick post. We are in Richmond with my family and had quite the spread. So I don't want to have this post be too wordy, but I do want to post a lot of pictures. Sorry the pictures aren't the best. I tried to take some good pictures, but hunger got the best of me.

Post carving carnage!

Gravy...It's what make the world go 'round!

Pho-Real!

Moving from a town of 6,500 people to the suburbs of Washington DC has provided a lot of opportunities for us as far as stuff to do. Top on my list of stuff to do is eat.We don't exactly have the disposable income available to us with the cost of living being so high in this area. We do however, crawl out of our cave every now and again and partake of some good food. The Chiropractor office I visit is right next to a Vietnamese noodle parlor that is always full of people when I drive by. Normally I just slow down to a creeper speed and salivate as I watch people slurp up delicious noodles. We finally decided to check it out, mainly so I wouldn't get a restraining order for putting my nose up to the glass and breathing heavily every time I am there.

I have never been to a restaurant like this and have never had Pho before and thought I would pass on my knowledge to anyone who is pho ignorant like I was. Pho (pronounced "fuh") is a Vietnamese noodle soup normally served with beef or chicken. The soup is normally served with a side of fresh basil, bean sprouts, chilies and lime. These can be added as the diner wishes. When selecting beef you generally have options of what cut of meat you want; steak, fatty flank, lean flank, and brisket.

I'm thinking I want to try to make some for myself. Here is the recipe I want to try:

Vietnamese Pho: Beef Noodle Soup by Steamy Kitchen




Source

 Move over Iranian Kabobs, I think I may have found my new favorite ethnic food! I wonder what we will try next? Is there any exotic or ethnic foods you have recently tried or want to try? Let us know, I'm always looking for something new!

How to Enjoy Autumn

The other day as I guilted myself about not writing any blog posts for most of the month of October, I stopped to ponder what I have been up to. You know what I realized? I have been busy drinking up all that is autumn. This is my favorite season, especially in Virginia. My time has been filled with apples and pumpkins, boots and scarves, and preparing for the seasons and holidays ahead. Here are a few of the things I've been doing to fully partake in the changing seasons:

1. Participate in the harvest

Fair Fare

We had a fantastic weekend. Not only was it General Conference (which I always look forward to), but we spent a little time at the Virginia State Fair. We met Matt's parents there on Saturday morning for a fun filled  day of fair fare (see what I did there? how is that for alliteration?)

We started with some photo ops:

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Fall is upon us and you know what that means...sweaters, scarfs, soups and everything pumpkin! I'm sure all of these things will be making their way on the blog in the coming months! We can't get enough pumpkin here at the Coats household, and can you blame us?! It's like orange crack! Holli and I were both intrigued by a pumpkin snickerdoodle, but Holli just had to have them this weekend. You didn't hear me complaining. I was glad because it felt like a transition into fall.

Sinfully Sinless Tiramisu

I have always wanted to try Tiramisu, but I don't drink coffee and don't drink alcohol and Tiramisu has both. Sadly I always have to pass over this Italian dessert when I see it on a menu. I have decided to break from the traditional Italian version and try something a little unorthodox, but that still fits into my standards. So if you are a Tiramisu traditionalist, this recipe may not be for you. But if you don't like coffee or alcohol or just want to give your kids something a little more refined than a cold hot dog, this recipe may just be for you. Also a bonus it is Mormon approved...it's kind of like kosher.

Inside Out Carrot Cake Muffins

You might want to sit down for this one...because you are about to be blown away. Think about delicious moist carrot cake topped with gooey wonderful cream cheese frosting. Now take that lovely slice of cake and invert it! Turn it's world upside down, by putting the cake on the outside and the frosting on the inside! I know crazy huh?! It sounds awesome, but does it taste good? Yes. Yes it does. There are some recipes that I have really high hopes for and end up falling a little short. This was not one of those recipes. It ended up being far better then I imagined, and trust me, I imagined it being really good.

Chicken Piccata

Our rock the vote was so close I decided to make this recipe as well! Ok, I really wanted to make it anyways, but can you blame me? Look at this thing! It is just one of those classic Italian dishes. As summer comes to an end I wanted to fit this one in before it is soup season. It is just so bright, fresh and simple, I love it. Not a lot goes in to this dish, but you can fool anyone to think you put in a ton of effort. Another bonus is most of the ingredients (besides the capers) you probably have on hand, so it wont break the bank. My friend Liz who is always hooking us up with sweet stuff, gave me her subscription to Cooks Illustrated. I have really liked it so far. This recipe is from their website, which has a bunch of good recipes and how to videos.

Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes (a replica of the Cheese Cake Factory)

Photo by Holli Coats

Thank you all for voting! Out of 45 votes, 15 of you (or 33%) voted for the Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes for the win! It was a close race and it pulled ahead of the Chicken Piccata in the last minute. I have been wanting to make these for a long time now, but laziness had gotten the best of me.


If we are going to the Cheese Cake Factory it is guaranteed that I will order them every time. It is just one of those things that is unique. I have never had anything like it. If you have never had these they are in the appetizer section. Normally Holli and I will order this and split an entree, because seriously who really needs all of the food they give you?

Rock the Vote II

I know I have been slacking on the food portion of our blog. My list of things I want to make is forever increasing and my desire and time to make them is declining. It is time once again to rock the vote! Hopefully with your help I can decide on what to make next and with a little pressure will be able to make it happen! Here is a refresher on how this all works: On the right side of our blog is a poll. It lists several options that are also listed below on this post. Last time many of you commented on the post and I wasn't sure if you had also taken the poll and didn't know if I was double counting the votes. If you do wish to comment (which I hope you do), please let me know if you have voted in the poll.

Let me introduce you to our starting line up:

Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes (a replica of the Cheese Cake Factory)


Source

I have to tell you I am addicted to these. I get them everytime I go to the Cheese Cake Factory and I always wish I had more. I have been holding off on these only because I don't think I have the will not to make them and eat them everyday.

Coconut Banana Bread

We love this banana bread recipe! It is one of the moistest banana breads I have ever had. The coconut is also a nice touch. Since Holli will only eat bananas when they are green we end up freezing a lot of bananas when they get too ripe which I am ok with since they turn into this! This recipe is brought to you by Holli's Mom's Blog Lovin' from the Oven! I just ate the last of ours for breakfast today!

Photo by Holli Coats

Summer Chicken Salad

Summer meals are hard for me. I can always think of lots of warm, comfort food type dishes, but in the summer heat I'm at a loss for what to prepare. With all the delicious produce in season, you would think it would be easy. Just goes to show my food creativity is totally lacking.

A few weeks ago as I was preparing our meal plan I sought inspiration from the cooking blog goddess, Pioneer Woman, and she delivered! We've had this meal several times now (just had it tonight!) and it always proves to be refreshing and delicious!

Puree Day

Our little Charly's food repertoire is quickly growing- she's eating peas, bananas, and squash. So far she loves them all- we are hoping to keep expanding her palate and *maybe* have a not-picky kid. That would be really cool. 

The girl just loves food!

Part of our not-picky-kid plan is to make a lot of her food. Have any of you ever tried store bought baby food? It is b-l-a-n-d. I tried her peas the other day, and honestly I'm surprised she likes them. Matt was given a baby food cookbook called Cooking for Baby by Lisa Barnes. He is excited to try some of the recipes that she'll be ready to eat in a month or so when he can start introducing herbs and spices and get a little fancy with her food. Our hope is that by being familiar with lots of different tastes and textures early on she'll be open to new foods as she grows. We'll see. 

Passion Fruit Mousse

One of my all time favorite things in life is Passion Fruit Mousse. Has anyone ever asked you the question, "If your house was on fire and you could grab 3 material possessions, what would they be?" I can't exactly pin down my three, but if I had passion fruit mousse in the fridge I may be standing in the street eating my mousse and watching my photo albums burn. That being said, I think you now know how much I love the stuff.

Picture By Matt Coats