tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88160624055945198152012-01-08T17:30:49.772-07:00I am a copycat cook. Not a thief; but a scavenger of recipes from cooks who have paved the way before me. A blog about my adventures and experiments in the kitchen.CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.comBlogger171100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-77260992435475268092010-07-13T22:27:00.013-06:002010-09-30T20:22:48.052-06:00

The hiatus is from blogging, as you'll note if you glance at the posting dates.  The hecticism is from life.  Consider this a hiatus from the hiatus and then I'll probably slip back into non-bloggerdom until September. It hasn't been bad hecticism, but I'll give you the Top Ten Life Altering Events which have interfered with my blogging since I posted last.  Since when do I blog about my life? 

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-23830664142086929392010-05-26T22:47:00.000-06:002010-05-26T22:47:45.511-06:00

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-17211870655100189902010-05-10T15:39:00.004-06:002010-09-30T20:24:00.497-06:00

I do hate meatloaf, usually.  Growing up on a cattle ranch, let's just say we ate a whole lotta anything and everything that can be made out of ground beef.   Meatloaf is not on my top ten list, but cheese is!  So if you hate meatloaf (like I do) this is the recipe for you!  I still hate meatloaf, with the exception of this one recipe.  But then, it's not really meatloaf.  It's just cheese

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-77474567181515537962010-05-07T21:14:00.003-06:002010-09-30T20:24:58.636-06:00

Happy birthday to one of The Girls! I wish there was a witty rationale for the Duck Cake, but there isn't.  I'm not trying to imply the birthday girl is an ugly ducking.  She's not.  She's cute and ducks are cute, and it's a fun pan that I haven't used in several years.  I used the yummiest gooiest icing you'll ever taste, if you're in the market for yummy gooey icing! Snow Peak Frosting 1 1/4

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-78274404691000568242010-05-07T20:49:00.006-06:002010-09-30T20:25:40.825-06:00

There's nothing to say about this soup. Just make it. It's that good. Gnat's Homemade Potato Soup - from Buns in the Oven 6 potatoes, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces2 onions, chopped2 carrots, peeled and chopped2 stalks celery, sliced6 chicken boullion cubes1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes4 cups water1 tablespoon salt1/3 cup butterpepper, to taste8 ounces sour creamfinely chopped

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-78844874771198631982010-04-09T10:12:00.001-06:002010-04-09T10:13:18.503-06:00

An acquaintance asked me to make her wedding cake.  Excited by this daunting task, I was also a little worried that my skills were not up to par for that kind of a project.  As I'd never worked with fondant on a square tiers before, I decided to practice.  Happy 30th birthday to The Husband....with a tiered fondant cake.  OY. This is not how the corners are supposed to look.  I didn't publish

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-30629402255934265102010-04-09T10:00:00.001-06:002010-04-09T10:14:13.534-06:00

It's true. I love to play with my food, especially cakes and gingerbread.  Here are a few samplings from over the years...see for yourself: Before I learned about dowels. Oops.

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-78663783052321010552010-03-27T00:03:00.002-06:002010-03-27T00:04:48.856-06:00

Every now and then things get a little hectic. That's evident, as I haven't even had a chance to blog.  Sometimes I take a little holiday from cooking and commit such sins as feeding my family frozen pizza.  My brain takes a holiday too sometimes, which is also evident if you look below.  Copycat that!

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-58442896731650570172010-03-12T00:22:00.006-07:002010-09-30T20:27:25.177-06:00

Wednesday brought us a dish that our whole family loves, Chicken and Cheese Tostadas - a recipe shared by the best Kate in the world.  The picture doesn't do it justice at all.  I'm not a photographer, I'm just a copycat cook. Kate's Chicken and Cheese Tostadas 6 flour tortillascooking spray 1 packet Taco seasoning mix1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips 1/2 cup water2 cups

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-90366096158824983102010-03-09T23:23:00.002-07:002010-03-10T08:27:13.040-07:00

I put the Chocolate Truffles to the test and gave one to one of The Critics.   She died... of sheer happiness.  Tastebud overload.  Mission accomplished.

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-5312100524394770802010-03-09T09:36:00.004-07:002010-09-30T20:28:21.985-06:00

This recipe has been haunting me since I ripped it out of a Compliments magazine around Christmas time.  So the time came to try it out.  I made the basic recipe and the chai tea version.  The recipe says to let the truffle mixture refrigerate for 2 hours before rolling into balls.  I guess they mean it, this is what happens when you try too soon.  Looks like a poo massacre.  And the truffles

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-6716643982982631152010-03-08T13:34:00.006-07:002010-09-30T20:29:14.954-06:00

I don't usually get very creative with lunch.  But today I thought I'd try something that caught my eye in a little book of tea party ideas that came with a toy tea set.  Couldn't find the actual book though, so I had to go from memory. Attempt #1. 2 slices of bread, rolled with a rolling pin + peanut butter & jam = the rolled up, sliced abomination you see before you.It would sure be easier to

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-53955947385313310932010-03-04T20:23:00.006-07:002010-09-30T20:29:55.130-06:00

Leftover spaghetti on Tuesday goes with...Ann's Spaghetti Sauce on Wednesday.Leftover sauce on Wednesday goes with...Easy Cheesy Lasagna on Thursday.I like short cuts. Easy Cheesy Lasagna Ann's Spaghetti Sauce2 cups cottage cheese1 egg, beaten2 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheesesalt & pepper9 lasagna noodles, cookedParmesan cheese A prayer and a pinch o' love Prepare Ann's Spaghetti Sauce

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-5776445934710234262010-03-04T16:46:00.001-07:002010-03-04T16:47:35.854-07:00

I think one of the reasons I like cooking is because it's easy to think while you cook.  Muse, ponder, pray.  And here's what I was just thinking while waiting for water to boil.  One of The Girls asked if this blog was about trying to be the new Julie from the Julie/Julia Project.  Nah.  Nobody is going to read this but family and friends, if I'm lucky.  But I've always thought it would be fun

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-43981637024871552452010-03-04T08:28:00.013-07:002010-09-30T20:31:06.360-06:00

Last night's Copycat recipe is a tried and true favorite in our house.  A perfect way to use up the leftover spaghetti from last night.  Yeah, I planned it.  See where this goes later... Ann's Spaghetti Sauce - submitted to the Buns in the Oven cookbook. 1 lb ground beef (Alberta grown is best)1 6-ounce can tomato paste2 15-ounce cans tomato sauce1 tsp onion powder (I prefer onion salt)1 tsp

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-2770963156446050082010-03-03T00:54:00.028-07:002010-09-30T20:32:24.135-06:00

Last month I tasted the most wonderful French Onion Soup I've ever had. The cook generously gave me her recipe and I tried it for the first time today. I thought a soup so delicious would be rather complicated or include specialty ingredients I've never heard of.  Nope, simple enough for a simpleton like me.   Lorry's French Onion Soup6 cups sliced onions1/4 cup margarine or butter3 cans

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8816062405594519815.post-13006594062479413852010-03-01T15:06:00.011-07:002010-08-03T09:26:28.417-06:00

I love to experiment with food and I love to feed my family and friends. But I do not possess the gift of being able to toss ingredients together to invent something brand new and delicious. No, I am a copycat cook: a copycat of the culinary genius of others. Not a thief; but a scavenger of recipes. My taste buds are my guide and when they fail me, the food critics I live with are very obliging

CopyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00163374491224882047noreply@blogger.com1