Hey yo! So, in an effort to cook more savory things and to expand the diversity of my diet I joined a little food sharing cooperative. My friend Devin, who also likes to cook and has an interest in bid'niss, started a google group which has grown into something more. It's called Real Good Food and basically it helps connect local cooks. If you make a lot of soup, tamales, or curry you can write up a post and swap it with another member's samosas, stew, or pot roast. You can agree to an immediate sway or to something in the future. It's a great way for a single gal like me to NOT have to eat enchiladas all week just because they can only be made by the pan full. Since most of members' interaction is virtual Devin organized a meet and greet so people could chat and talk about the future of the group. In order to have some nosh Devin asked if I would help him make cupcakes.... a favorite past time of mine and who doesn't like sweets?! Ornery people that's who! So this past Saturday Devin and I got together and made some magic in the kitchen. As you all know, I loves the chocolate. Devin had been wanting to use some AWESOME sweet chili powder he picked up on a trip to Mexico this past summer. We put the two together for some sweet heat cupcakes.

Now, let's see if Devin actually reads this and then petitions to have that last picture of him removed!

P.S. If you want to know more about Real Good Food check out the website.

Whew! It's been a while. Life gets busy sometimes you know? I hope everyone had an awesome holiday season... I'm trying to be inclusive here peoples. I have been baking on a regular basis since my last post FYI. I just failed to document a lot of the action in my kitchen. My wallet and I were dreaming of a DIY only gift giving season. I made some lovely token of friendship holiday baskets for some local friends... The theme? Chocolate. Here's a quick list of what was in the baskets:

• chocolate shortbread
• chocolate balsamic vinegar
• malted hot cocoa mix (I swapped the powdered milk for malted milk powder)
  

I got positive responses on all three items so I trust they were enjoyed by all. I realized at the end of my academic term how long it had been since my last post and was determined to write one more before the new year. Obviously that did NOT happen. But I did do some cooking with the family. We hosted a Sweets, Treats, and Apps part-hey! at my grandpa's condo. I got a lot of help from my older sister, my niece, and my brother in-law. We made lots of things to nosh on including:

• triple pepper cookies
• spinach and artichoke dip
• sweet potato rounds
• latkes
• Mexican chocolate cake
• bittersweet chocolate cake w/ cherries
• pecan treat
• holiday marshmallow wreaths
• curried deviled eggs
• basil deviled eggs
• chilled ginger cinnamon tea
• yellow jacket punch

I tried so hard to be organized-REALLY. I had a list of all the different foods. I made a grocery list that organized all ingredients according to where they're found in the store (no running back and forth to produce!). Broke down the to-do list into a 2 day schedule. Bought stuff to label everything. I thought I'd thought of everything... but alas I hadn't. I forgot to charge my camera. So there is no evidence besides the links that I included and memories of those there. Trust me though... t'was delicious.

Thankfully, I do have foto evidence of my latest kitchen adventures. I made quick truffles using Alton Brown's recipe because he's a food scientist genius!






But wait! There's more! I also made a curry spiced popcorn for an Indian food dinner party a friend had.






So that's what I did this weekend. What did you get up to?