A Dynamic Duo Reunites

April Rhino Confession: I was a nerd in high school. Shocking.

Probably because of the aforementioned information, I only keep in touch with two friends from high school. They're good stock. Unfortunately, they both live in California, so I don't see either of them too often. Fortunately, work brought San Jose friend to Rhino's neck of the woods. YAY!!

Between margaritas the size of our heads, bowling, and surviving the coldest Nationals game complete with a hail delay, we cooked up some roasted pepper pasta salad from my July/August Food Network magazine. The recipe looked all fancy schmancy with its lemon juice and toasted almonds, but can together like rum and coke....Delicious.

I'm currently in friend withdrawal, but at least I have wonderful memories and leftovers to keep me company.

Bonus picture: Check out what Rhino found at Tuesday Morning this week.....

A Thoroughly Culinary Spring Break

Confession: Though Little Rhino is currently working her way through two grad classes while working full-time, she often thinks of quitting her program and running FAR away.

Thankfully, just as the Little Rhino started losing her charge, Spring Break came along. Spring Break was not that relaxing or carefree with a 40 hour work week, taxes to do, and wrangling an obstinate cat to the vet. Still, my SmarTrip appreciated the break on Monday. I appreciated a little less homework (stupid knowledge management paper), and everyone appreciated some Little Rhino cookery.

On St. Patrick's Day A.K.A. Diane my awesome co-worker's birthday, I made an old favorite of mine. Bailey's Irish Cream Brownies with green decorating sugar. I used to make them for a Guinness-loving ex who called me Boss (true story). He gladly gobbled them up whenever I made them and so did the birthday girl and my work crew. I like these people.

So, yeah, I love making brownies just about as much as I love making deviled eggs. However, with a no-class Monday, I wanted to make something MEATY!!! So, that Monday I pulled out my dutch oven, bought a butt-load of beef short ribs and cooked them up low and slow Asian-style (courtesy of Emeril Lagasse). I also made some pineapple orange banana cupcakes with orange cream cheese frosting because a super-cupcake loving friend of mine failed to make it to my birthday party due to physical incapacitation. Also, what's not to love about fruity cupcakes with cream cheese frosting?!

Thankfully, the cupcake lover and her husband (a first time Little Rhino dinner guest!!) came healthy and hungry this time. We all drank lots of wine (some of us more than others *rosy cheeked Rhino*), ate lots of bread, ribs, rice, and cupcakes, and laughed A LOT. Wonderful night...not as wonderful a morning for Miss Rhino. No, not hungover just acid reflux/heartburn. Man, I'm getting long in the horn.

Honestly, I could have ended my epic cooking/baking fest there except that the Penn Quarter Farmer's Market started up again on March 24th. As usual, I went gaga for apples and bought four huge Mutsus and another three moderately overweight Braeburns. After buying such crisp and fresh apples, I had no choice but to make a caramel apple pie (I swapped a toffee topping for a lattice one, no need for sugar overkill) for my Dad's and my joint birthday celebration. The family ruled it a success!! We divided the pie at the end the night. The next day, I headed back to class not relaxed, not rested, but completely cooking satisfied.....for now.

I'll Make Them an Offer They Can't Refuse

For Celeste's seventh birthday, she wanted to have a Godfather-themed party. I couldn't refuse her and neither could my friends. I made an extravagant Bolognese lasagna from my Food Network magazine. The Bolognese sauce took three hours to make. It took me another forty-five minutes to make the bechamel, and the bubbling lasagna caused my oven to smoke. However, it came out cheesy, meaty, and toothsome. Followed up with a trio of Ben and Jerry's, it met all of "Godfather" Celeste's demands and made for some tasty Wednesday leftovers.

Frozen Banana Split Pie...Pre-Split

Way back on Super Bowl Sunday, I made frozen banana split pie to
honor the banana split's birthplace, Pittsburgh. The Steelers did not win, and I broke up with my Super Bowl date a couple weeks later. However, the pie turned out beautiful and delicious. Even Mr. "I don't eat mashed potatoes because they're too fattening" couldn't resist it. I think it's pretty clear why Little Rhino dumped him.....

And A Happy Birthday to Mama Rhino Too!!

After making muffins for my co-worker on Saturday, I came home post-work and started peeling and slicing apples for an apple cranberry crumble for Mama Nashorn's birthday dessert. Mama Nashorn loves pies and the ilk (as does Little Rhino), so it seemed fitting to bake her a crumble rather than a cake for her birthday. Also in matching with the birthday theme, the recipe came from a cookbook entitled Rustic Fruit Desserts that parents Rhino gave me for my birthday last year. I made a few recipes from it in the Spring and Summer, but of late I had forgotten about this humble baking book. I'm glad that we were able to reunite.

I healthed the recipe up a bit by using Splenda, Splenda brown sugar, and light butter, but you couldn't tell from tasting it. It turned better than any of my previous Rustic Fruit Dessert adventures. My parents raved, and we all rejoiced the large amount of crumble leftovers (the recipes makes a ton. It calls for eight large apples, but six more than sufficed). Happy birthday, Mama Rhino indeed. I love you!!

Happy Birthday and Congratulations on Not Dying

Congratulations to my esteemed co-worker on her birthday and, more importantly, making it to that birthday. January proved to be a maze of germs and bacteria for Little Rhino's colleague. She thought that she might die a few days at work. I told her that I would not allow her to die at work (too much paperwork).

Anyhoo, to celebrate her birthday the next day and her heart still beating, I made some oatmeal, peanut butter, banana muffins (I added Reese's Pieces to the recipe) for her and the rest of the Saturday crew. Given the empty plate by 11 AM, I'd say those muffins did not go unloved. Better yet, said co-worker came to work alive on Tuesday. YAY!!

When stress strikes, the Rhino cooks...ALL HAIL EIGHT TACO TND

As promised, in honor of my friend's outstanding performance in the aforementioned eating competition, I hosted a TND with dishes of her choosing. True to her fine form, Eight Taco made some outstanding choices... wild mushroom macaroni and cheese with black truffle oil and chocolate gooey butter cake....I never said anything about health-smart ( ;

Preparing two dishes after a long day of commuting and class is not everybody's idea of bliss, but it's mine!! I gave my kitchen a giant hug when I got home and partook of some major kitchen therapy. I'll take macaroni and cheese and chocolate cake making over yoga any day. Yu-Ohm.

Along with some addictive balsamic aspargus from my favorite Asian, an adhoc Eight Taco salad, and wine, TND turned into a veritable feast. Conversation simmered like a rich tomato sauce, and the night ended with smiley faces and full stomachs.

Epilogue: The next day at work, I curried favor with leftover gooey chocolate butter cake. Score!!