Friday, June 29, 2012

Look Ma! I made bread!

Welcome to installment 2 of Cocoa's slide show instructions :0)
Step 1. Put the ingredients in the bread machine pan.

Step 2. Put pan in machine - don't push down too hard or it will get permanently stuck and you will have to pry it out with tools - which is not the manufacturer's intent.
Step 3. Choose option 9, if you have my machine. It lives under the cupboard so I had to use a mirror to get some light on it for the picture.  
Step 4. Close the lid. Don't forget to press "Start"...yes, I went to check on it an hour later and was stupefied.
Step 5. Store in airtight container.
When I make this bread I remember how much I miss Macaroni's Grill bread, then I remember it's not the bread I missed from Macaroni's - it's the dipping and go drizzle some evoo and balsamic in a plate with a dash of S&P and I'm happy again.
  What do you miss?

Friday, June 22, 2012

"I fake it homemade and I'm proud" roast ala Chez Cocoa

$12.49/ pound. That is how much my roast cost. Then I put 
in in a pan and served it, see?


Ok, so maybe I cut it out of the wrapper first and let all the bloody juice puddle around it.
Kind of hard to imagine it's fully cooked and this is what the deli slices up for you, eh?
Slicing it up makes it "cook" faster.
Tenting it with foil helps the "gravy"
Good alone or smothered in BBQ sauce.  
Also featured instructions on how to procure said roast here: http://cocoasglutenfreeplace.blogspot.com/2012/04/look-i-made-roastand-fab-gf-find.html
Have a nice weekend!

Monday, June 4, 2012

Alternate uses for an apple slicer


I've never actually owned a toaster...and it wasn't really until recently that I decided to make toast for myself (as an adult). But, I've found it's actually much easier in a non-stick skillet than it ever was in a toaster. Curious?
 It's easy - heat the pan on High until it's hot (30 secs or less), turn down heat to medium and put in your bread. Put the apple slicer (or other weight like a plate or large round jar) on top and when it stops steaming, flip and do the other side.  Why a weight you ask? Well, you can toast without it but the light weight makes it toast evenly rather tan just getting the parts that naturally touch the pan (like the middle).
Perfect toast! No pushing it down twice and ending up with burned fritters.
Also, have you ever noticed GF bread smells way worse than wheat bread when it burns? :(