The Finer things You Can Afford

I am a little obsessed with truffle oil right now and I tried it with dinner tonight. 

Cous Cous with Truffle Oil

I package Parmesan Cous Cous mix (preferably Near East)

1 Bay Leaf

Sea Salt and Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

One tablespoon olive oil

One teaspoon Truffle Oil (white or black truffle oil would work)

One medium zucchini or two small zucchinis

One medium summer squash or two small summer squash

One tablespoon of fresh basil

Start by slicing the zucchini and summer squash very thinly.  Place the vegetables in a hot pan with about a tablespoon of olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.  Cook them in a single layer so they can brown a little.  Prepare the cous cous according to directions on the mix.  Add a bay leaf, black pepper, the spice mix, and a teaspoon of truffle oil and then bring the water to a boil.  Add the cous cous and stir.  Let stand for about 5 minutes.  Next fluff the cous cous with a fork and add the vegetables, basil, and toss or just place the vegetables on top of the cous cous.  The great thing about cous cous is you can serve it hot or at room temperature so you have some flexibility with serving it.  This makes cous cous a great choice for casual entertaining. 

Click the link below to purchase truffle oil. 

http://eclecticgrocer.com/grartrflexvi.html

There are many sources for Kitchen Aid Mixer recipes.  You can use basically any recipe you find.  A tip is that you want to use the paddle attachment anytime you are going to cream butter and sugar together and make some type of dough (not most breads) or batter.  You will use the whisk attachment when beating egg whites or making whipped cream.  This attachment puts air into the food and adds volume.  You will use the dough hook primarily for making breads. 

We recently purchased a memory foam mattress topper and it is absolutely fabulous.  You place it under your mattress pad and many of them come with a covering as well.  You can have all the benefits of a memory foam mattress for a fraction of the price.  It helped with my back pain and I slept like a baby the first night we had it.  I also have a memory foam pillow which helps immensely with my neck and back pain.  Now we don’t want to get out of bed in the morning!  Order one for yourself or give one as a gift.  The recipient will thank you again and again. 

Cooking is much more than prepping the food and standing over a hot stove.  The end result goes back to using high quality ingredients and using recipes from trusted sources.  Planning is often the difference between a disaster and a fabulous meal.  Take the time to plan a menu and make sure that the flavors of each dish complement one another.  If you are not sure, think about using dishes that use similar herbs and spices.  Spend time reading cookbooks and cooking magazines to get a feel for what food should be paired together. 

Of course the proper equipment is crucial, such as high quality knives and a cookware set with even heating.  Some people laugh at all my kitchen gadgets but they really make a difference in my cooking.  I don’t know what I would do without my citrus zester and my spice grater.  If you are going to bake, I highly recommend investing in a Kitchen Aid Mixer.  Please comment on any recommendations you have for cookware and gadgets on the blog as I am sure that I must be missing something.