So Kool or Not Kool? Roasted Cauliflower

So Kool or Not Kool?  Not Kool
Picky Eater's Opinion?  I can't believe you let me put that in my mouth.

I am always looking for ways to fix vegetables differently, so I was excited to add this as a side item to our Thanksgiving menu.  I thought the flavor of the cauliflower itself was good, but I thought the ratio of bread crumbs to cauliflower was overwhelming.  The bread crumbs totally took over the dish.  If I was going to make this again, I would cook the cauliflower longer and had only half of the bread crumbs to the recipe. 

So Kool or Not Kool? Pumpkin Cream Pie

So Kool or Not Kool?  Better than Regular Pumpkin Pie
Picky Eater's Opinion?  Very Kool

I do not typically like pumpkin pie.  As I have said in previous posts, I have a huge sweet tooth, so if it is the only thing available then I will eat it, but it is ALWAYS my last choice of pies.  And, I grew up a pie girl because every year for the holidays, my grandmother would always make everyone their favorite pie.  She made such good pies that she sold them to a local restaurant and they used her pies.  I NEVER picked pumpkin. 

This recipe was my pick because my husband eats pumpkin pie, but doesn't love it either, so I thought this might be a nice change.  I love a graham cracker crust, so this pie was off to a good start.  It was easy to make and very light and fluffy.  I would make this again for special holidays, but it is easy enough to make whenever you want it. 

So Kool or Not Kool? Peach Whiskey Chicken

So Kool or Not Kool?  Kooooooooooooool
Picky Eater's Opinion?  It was awesome

I was hesitant about this recipe, but it was unbelievably delicious.   We used homemade apricot jam instead because that is what we had, but this was to die for.  The chicken was so tender that it melted in your mouth.  A knife is not needed to cut the chicken at all, you can just use a fork.  We will definitely be making this recipe again and I cannot wait to eat it again. 

So Kool or Not Cool? Angel Sugar Cookies

So Kool or Not Kool?  Ehhhhhhh....
Picky Eater's Opinion?  He isn't picky about cookies :)

In the defense of this recipe, it probably didn't stand much of a chance in my opinion.  I have a sugar cookie recipe that I am in love with that I have used for years.  It always turns out perfect (except for the time when I was 9 years old and decided to surprise my mom and make them for her when she was at the neighbors and I read 1 tsp of salt as 1 TBS of salt... let's just say that is not a mistake that leads to a pleasant flavor change in cookies).  So, right out of the gun this recipe had a lot to live up to for me, because other than my perfect sugar cookie recipe, I think the sugar cookie is boring.

Having said that, these cookies were just as easy as any cookie to make and they tasted fine enough, but I would not make them again.  They are very light and fluffy, but to me, they didn't have that much flavor.  However, none of them went to waste in the house, because it doesn't take much to convince a 3 year old and a 4 year old to eat the cookies.  However, I probably only ate 2 or 3 of them.  

So Kool or Not Kool? Crash Hot Potatoes

So Kool or Not Kool?  So Kool
Picky Eater's Opinion?  It's a potato... that works for me

I. LOVE. POTATOES.  I wish they had more nutritional value than they actually do.  That would make me even happier.  When David and I started dating, he would laugh at me because I had a huge potato for dinner frequently.  A baked potato with the works is something that can always make me happy.  That being said, I am continually looking for new ways to make potatoes, so I was thrilled when this recipe came up and couldn't wait to try it (although obviously, I could wait to blog about it :) ) 

These are very easy to make and delightfully delicious.  I love the taste of the olive oil on top and bottom of the potatoes as well as the kosher salt.  This will definitely be yet another alternative recipe for potatoes in our house.  LOVE. IT.

So Kool or Not Kool? Pineapple Upside Cake

So Kool or Not Kool?  SO KOOL!!!!!!!!!
Picky Eater's Opinion?  I'll eat more of that
Future Chef's Menu?  DEFINITELY

I love sweets, but I generally gravitate towards those made with chocolate and not those made with fruit.  However, I do love pineapple and pineapple upside down cake.  I don't have a cast iron skillet at my house, so I had to wait to make this at the cabin.  It was ridiculously easy to make and unbelievably delicious.  I may have to get a cast iron skillet just to leave at my house so I can make this again.  The one thing that I think I did wrong was that I put too much brown sugar (if that is even possible) on the bottom/top of the cake.  This is something I would also love to try to make over a campfire when we were cooking with the boys.  We do have cast iron cookware in the camper, so we may have to give this recipe a try next spring/summer.  I'll let you know how that goes.

So Kool or Not Kool? Corn Casserole with Peppers

So Kool or Not Kool?  Either Way...
Picky Eater's Opinion?  Didn't have one

As we entered the second half of the year, I did not do near as great of a job entering my blog posts on the cooking club, even though I was making the recipes.  As I sit here tonight, with one day remaining in the year, I think of how much confidence I have gained as a cook and how much willingness I have to try new foods.  I am also super proud of my Picky Eater as he has found at least 15-20 new foods this year that he will eat.

We made this back in August, and it was good, but in my opinion, it was nothing great.  However, fresh corn on the cob is my favorite way to eat corn and it brings back so many memories of shucking fresh corn right out of the pasture with my grandmother back when I was a little girl.  She is no longer living, but the memories I feel when eating fresh corn on the cob still remain very strong.  Having said this, this particular recipe really did nothing for us.  We would eat it if it was one of the only things being served, but we would not make it again or really prefer to have it.