January 31st, 2009
While in Argentina, J and I visited with his family, who live in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. I had a fabulous time. Everyone I met was so open, welcoming and friendly. I do not speak Spanish but J would sit next to me and translate. I found that with my knowledge of Italian, I understood a lot and was able to communicate rather well. Granted I did leave them with the impression that I was quiet…
Being at his grandmother’s house was very relaxing. Again it felt familar, although it was very new. One of my favorite memories of our trip is sitting around drinking mate with his grandmother. Mate is a type of tea. People get together and pass around the mate. It is a very intimate and special experience. I wish I had taken more pictures of everything…
J and his uncle have the same birthday so they threw a party for the two of them. The food was excellent. J’s uncle roasted two pigs, which were served with salads, matambre and chipas! For dessert we had ice cream and cake. I recommend trying lemon ice cream with champagne. We were up until 3am singing Argentine songs. What an amazing experience!
Chipas are like yummy cheese puffs. I am addicted to them. I made a huge batch and probably ate half of them myself. In Argentina, they have mixes where you just had water and eggs. Here is a recipe that I was given. I have not tried it here yet, so watch the cooking time.
Chipa
1 lb. of yuka flour (can find at Latino grocery stores)
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup grated Fontina cheese, grated
150 grams of butter
salt
milk to wet the dough
Mix it all together and roll into balls. Bake at 350 for 20 min. Half way through flip them over so they are evenly browned.
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January 28th, 2009
Wow! I can’t believe that we have been back from Argentina for three weeks. Where has the time gone? I was thrown back into real life so quickly. A few hours after returning, I was already reading cases and prepping for my first day of class. Now as I trudge through the snow to get to school, spend hours in the library studying and stress about finding a summer job, I remember something J said to me, “We will always have BA!”
How true he was! And I can’t wait to return. Our trip to Argentina was everything that we needed. After a stressful first semester, I needed to relax and that I did. Most days I slept until at least noon. When I would wake up, J and I would go in search of food…delicious food…Now, if Ginny is hungry, she starts to get grouchy. This happens to be a family trait. My mother is one of ten. Eight of which are girls. There are a few common traits among these girls, one of which being that they like their vittles. When my aunt was getting married, my mother drove up to DC with my aunt’s fiance (the groom). My mom hates to stop on a long car ride because she likes to get there quickly. My uncle, however, made her stop and get some food. My mom was slightly annoyed but he responded “You need to feed L’s girls!”
How true he was! We need to be fed! J has learned and he made sure I was very, very, well fed. I gorged myself on yummy dulce de leche desserts, tried crocodile (see above picture), ate steak, sampled every type of empanadas, found the best alfajores, fell in love with croissants filled with melted cheese and ham…everything was excellent…
Not only did we catch up on sleeping and eat a ton, we also explored Buenos Aires. It was strangely familiar and yet completely new to me at the same time. J and I walk a lot. We explored many of the little neighborhoods on foot. My favorite place in the city was the Plaza Dorrego in San Telmo. J and I went there at night when people spilled out of the bars into the Plaza, listening to musicians and dancing. I also loved the art. Even the graffiti was art. Sigh! Can I go back now?
P.S. Check out my pictures here. Stay tuned for more about Argentina…including recipes… Also, crocodile is yummy! Tastes like fish!
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January 21st, 2009
Today, my blog turns one! Happy Birthday Just Get Floury!!!!
I can’t believe that just a year ago, I started this. It has been quite the year…filled with experimenting with food, playing with my writing style, discovering how to take decent food photos, figuring out blogger and then wordpress, and, most importantly, cultivating some wonderful foodie friendships! Thank you. I would never have kept this up, if it hadn’t been for you! Also, a special thanks to my family and friends, who have been very supportive of this endeavor! I love you all!
Now, I think that it is no coincidence that the my blog’s birthday and the Season Premiere of LOST coincide. My friends and I are having a party tonight to watch the show together and I decided to make cupcakes. I wanted them to be themed so I sent an email around for suggestions:
H: Let’s see… I think I think of a cupcake with something secret hidden in it - you know, a mysterious cupcake.
C: I think of those chocolate “dirt” cupcakes with the gummy worms…
P: chocolate with green frosting
D: no-refrigeration-needed-ranch-dressing flavored? wow, that was a little specific.
L: …Cupcakes that I can’t find? If we hide and seek for cupcakes that would be fun though…
R: Yeah. I can imagine something that tastes like pinapple upside down cake or pina colada flavor. Maybe pineapple cake with coconut icing.
Put ‘em together and what have you got
bibbidi-bobbidi bibbidi-bobbidi bibbidi-bobbidi-boo
Coconut Buttercream on Yellow Cupcakes with a LOST character (sour patch kid) hidden inside…
For the buttercream I used this recipe. I wanted to turn it green but forgot to buy food coloring… oh well! It was delicious! I’m not the biggest fan of coconut and yet I was eating it out of the bowl!
Also, I’m embarrassed to admit, I made a simple boxed cake because I had so much reading to get done in order to actually have time to go to the party. But if I had the time, I would have made this cake, which is my go-to basic yummy cake:
Dinette Cake (adapted from Betty Crocker)
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking power
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1. Heat oven to 350.
2. Grease and flour square pan.
3. Measure baking powder, flour, and salt into a bowl.
4. Cream the shortening and the sugar.
5. Add the egg to the sugar-butter.
6. Then alternating the dry ingredients with the milk, mix into the butter mixture. Do about a third of each at a time and end with the dry ingredients.
7. Mix in the vanilla.
8. Pour into a pan.
9. Bake for 35-40 min. or until a wooden pick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
P.S. I’ll let you know how the hide and seek game goes!
UPDATE: There was no hide and seek game…these cupcakes met with a twisted and fitting end…
On a cold and wintery Chicago day, the cupcakes climbed into a carrying case to begin their long journey to C’s. The ride was slow and easy, a little bumpy at times. They talked amongst themselves and a few got up to stretch their legs. But no one could predict what was going to happen. It was tragic. About five minutes into their ride, the carrier was distracted and lost her hold on the cupcakes. They went tumbling, spiraling, crashing into a snowy bank. The case cracked open and the cupcakes spilled out onto the snow. There were only five survivors of this tragic flight, who were taken to safety and promptly eaten by a few hungry girls. YUM!!!
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