A Few Thoughts for the New Year

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.” -Steve Jobs


"The best way to predict the future is to create it." - Joseph Campbell

I like Pies

This drawing is by my son Gabriel, the illustrator of "An Alien Robot Cookbook," and it seemed appropriate for today.

This past year I've been experimenting with making knishes, empanadas and other variations of the handheld savory pie. NPR just published an article about the pie. Apparently, it's getting hot. You can find the NPR piece here.

One of my favorite potato knish recipes comes from a video on about.com by Rachel Edelman.

Here's her recipe for her rustic, hearty, delicious potato knishes:

Potato Knishes

• 6 potatoes
• 1/4 cup of oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 onion
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1 egg

First, cook the potatoes. Use a vegetable peeler to take off all of the skin. Be sure to put the tip of the peeler into the potato to remove any deep parts. Next, cut the potatoes into large chunks, which will help them cook faster.

Place the potatoes into a pot of boiling water. Cook for around 15-20 minutes, until they are soft. Now, drain the pot into a colander.

Put the potatoes back into the pot and then mash them well. Measure out 1 cup of mashed potatoes. This is going to be for the dough.

Put the measured potatoes into a bowl. Add the oil and salt, then mix it together. You'll see it gets nice and creamy.

In a separate bowl, add the baking powder to the flour. Whisk them together. Add about one-third of the flour mixture to the mashed potatoes and mix. In sections, add in all the flour as best you can.

Next, make a small well in the center of the bowl. Pour the cold water right into that spot. Knead the dough with your hands for a few minutes. The dough will come together, and soon you have a nice, firm ball.

Place a wet cloth or towel on top of the dough, and let it sit for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, cut and peel the onion. Dice it into small pieces. Then melt the butter in a pan to medium high heat. Add the onions and sauté until they are soft, but not yet brown.

Pour the onions into a mixing bowl. This will be for our knish filling. Add 1 1/2 cups of mashed potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Combine everything together. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Flour a flat surface and a rolling pin. Place down the dough, and divide it into four parts. Take one part and prepare it for rolling. Roll out the dough, flipping it over occasionally, so it is one-quarter of an inch thick.

Make a Square Knish

For a square knish, with a pizza cutter or knife, trim the edges of all sides of the dough so it forms a rectangle. Place the potato filling into the center of the square. Fold over the short sides and push down on the edge.

Next, fold over the longer sides. You'll see how the dough forms a pocket around the filling. Dip your fingers into some water, then wet the dough to help seal the edges.

Place the knish on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Crack an egg, and beat it with a fork. Paint the egg on the knish with a brush for the final touch.

Make a Round Knish

To a make a round knish, use a bowl to help make an even circle with the rolled dough. Place the filling in the center, pull up the sides, and pinch the dough at the top.

Place it on the baking sheet, and brush with the egg.

Bake the Potato Knishes

Place the pan into the oven, and cook for about 20-25 minutes. You can see how the egg brings a nice golden color to the finished knishes.

Opening an Etsy shop and Do-it-yourself Light Box

Well, I've gone and done it. I opened an Etsy shop. This is where I'll showcase my new creations.  Right now, I've got a ceramic sculpture, some magnets, and some pins made from old game tiles. Soon I will offer custom pet sculptures. My shop is called Alien Robot Cookbook. (See how it all ties together?)

Taking photographs is a challenge. I built myself a light box from an old cardboard box and some baking parchment.

I learned how from awesome photographer Jen Kiaba's blog: http://www.jenkiaba.com/2009/06/diy-lightbox-for-under-10.html

Thanks Jen! It was a fun project and I think my photos turned out much, much better than they might have without your assistance.

Now if Joey doesn't put it on his head, I'll be on my way!

Happy New Year to You!

This morning as I was taking a walk (trying to stave off post-party weight-gain),  I listened to Sister Diane's CraftyPod podcast for the first time. I was inspired by her conversation with Paul Overton of http://www.dudecraft.com.  Apparently like me, Paul Overton sometimes feels like his interests are all-over-the-place. Maybe that's not such a bad thing. I've been kicking myself for years for not being focused enough.

I've also been recently inspired by other blogs including www.eatmakeread.com, www.sfgirlbybay.com, Isa Chandra Moskowitz of Post Punk Kitchen, www.theppk.com, and as always, by www.readymade.com. And I cannot forget the sage wisdom of my neighbor Paul and that of my new therapist. I asked myself, "If I love this stuff so much, why not try to become a part of it?" I felt like it might be the perfect time to reinvigorate this blog.

It's a new year!

In order to celebrate, I have added a lot of new recipe pages from "An Alien Robot's Cookbook" for you to sample. I want to give more this year. Enjoy!

Cookies

Zenith Zucchini Bread

Today we made Zenith Zucchini Bread for my father's birthday. Happy 72nd Pops!

(This recipe is not in our book)

Makes 2 loaves

3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 t vanilla
2 cups zucchini, grated
3 cups flour
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
1/4 t baking powder
3 t cinnamon
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray the loaf pans with oil, or butter them.

Beat the eggs. Add the sugar, oil, and vanilla. Add the grated zucchini to this egg mixture.

In another bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Add to the egg/zucchini mixture. Stir. Add coconut and nuts.

Bake for 1 hour.

Click here for our TV Appearance!

Gabe and I had a great time demonstrating a recipe from our kids cookbook. The people at the tv station KCQA/KCRA were really nice and made us feel comfortable. The director Mike used to do a radio show on KDVS (Mike & Mike). It turns out that he is a huge fan of my husband Roger's former band Thin White Rope.