What to do with 7 egg yolks?

After you've made your cake, what do you do with the leftover egg yolks?

Orecchiette Carbonara with Charred Brussels Sprouts (2 yolks)

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream (4 yolks)

Vanilla Ice Cream (5 yolks)

The Silkiest Carbonara (7 yolks)

Carry-On Bag Restrictions to-date, International and Domestic (list)

Carry-on Bag Restrictions to-date (Smallest restrictions listed)*
- Aer Lingus Regional 48cm (18.5") x 33cm (13") x 20cm (8")
- Air France                 55cm (21") x 35cm (14") x 25cm (10")
- AirTran                     60cm (24") x 40cm (16") x 25cm (10")
- Alaska                       61cm (24") x 43cm (17") x 25cm (10")      
- British Airways         56cm (22") x 45cm (18") x 25cm (10")
- Delta                         56cm (22") x 35cm (14") x 23cm (9")
- Frontier                     60cm (24") x 40cm (16") x 25cm (10") additional charges may apply
- JetBlue                      43.2cm (17") x 33cm (13") x 27.9cm (11") under seat (overhead measurements are larger)
- RyanAir                    55cm (21") x 40cm (16") x 20cm (8")
- Southwest                 60cm (24") x 40cm (16") x 25cm (10")
- Spirit                         56cm (22") x 46cm (18") x 25cm (10") additional charges apply
- Transavia                  40cm (15") x 25cm (10") x 20cm (8") recommended size, one bag total
- United                       56cm (22") x 35cm (14") x 22cm (9")
- US Airways              56cm (22") x 36cm (14") x 23cm (9")

* cm = inches conversions may vary but are based on what is listed on each website, when in doubt, err on the smaller side

Antler Luggage has a great listing for international airlines; be sure to verify that measurements are current.

Mt Bachelor, Bend, Oregon

Located in Central Oregon, Mt Bachelor ski resort offers 3,683 acres of terrain, downhill & cross country trails, tubing and multiple terrain parks for boarding and other.

My husband and I took the opportunity to ski this last weekend and had the fortune of terrific weather and groomed runs throughout. Bachelor experienced a fierce ice storm not too long ago and underneath the groomed runs, there's a hard shell of ice. As more snow arrives, this will be less of an issue but as long as we stuck to the groomed runs, we were treated to spring-like conditions, without the slush.

The Outback and Northwest chairs were open both days we skied, offering longer, steeper & narrower runs that many places on the mountain. With so many chairs on the mountain open, crowds were not an issue and liftlines, even on Pine Martin and Summit were small and at times, non-existent.

Some views from Bachelor:






















There are a number of things to do in Central Oregon. Golf, fishing, tennis and more.

Places to stay include Black Butte, Sunriver and Bend.

If you stay in Sunriver, don't miss the South Bend Bistro, by far the best restaurant in Sunriver, and they serve a good margarita, as well. I do not recommend the Sunriver Lodge for dining unless you order the sliders (my husband swears by them) or the fish & chips, everything else there, I've found to be less than marginal.

Originally written in February of 2009.

Baker City and the Oregon Trail

If you're interested in history, Baker City is a gem. Make dinner reservations and stay the night at the recently renovated Geiser Grand Hotel, originally built in 1889. Must haves are the Oregon-grown steak and the Mushroom Marsala. The bar makes an excellent Mojito, as well.

Start your tour of the area with a walking tour through Baker City to see some of the historic buildings in the area.

Next, head to the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, stopping along the way to see wagon ruts (pay attention to the markers on the side of the road and you won't miss them).

If you have some time, drive out past Richland to Hell's Canyon.

Other things to check out in the area: Sumpter, Anthony Lakes and here's a terrific article on Tripadvisor.

Originally written Jun2009.

Vegetarian Entrees & Pasta Dishes

Main Dishes
- Black Bean & Quinoa Veggie Burgers (contains egg)
- Butternut Squash & Black Bean Enchiladas (contains nightshade)
- Caramelized Cauliflower & Mushroom Casserole (contains egg, gluten-free, nightshade-free)
- Chickpea Curry-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (vegan)
- Crispy Quinoa Bake (make with veggie stock, gluten-free)
- Garlic & Thyme Quinoa Patties (contains egg)
- Gnocchi with Roasted Cauliflower
- Grits with Creamed Cashews (vegan)
- Hawaiian Sloppy Joe's (vegan)
- Lentils with Egg and Greens (contains egg)
- Lentil Loaf with Balsamic Glaze (vegan, gluten-free, nightshade-free)
- Loaded Quinoa Veggie Burgers (vegan)
- Mushroom Turnovers with Sour Cream
- Parmesan Spinach Quinoa with Pine Nuts
- Red Quinoa Bowl with Swiss Chard & Egg (contains egg, gluten-free)
- Roasted Spaghetti Squash (gluten-free, nightshade-free)
- Spring Vegetable Farrotto (make with veggie stock)
- Vegetable Tamale Pies (gluten-free)

Pasta Dishes
- Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese (skip the bacon)
- Cauliflower Macaroni & Cheese with Golden Bread Crumbs
- Cheesy Butternut Squash Cavatappi Bake (skip the bacon)
- Miso Walnut Soba Noodles (vegan, gluten-free, nightshade-free)
- Mushroom Pasta Sauce (make with veggie stock instead of chicken)
- No Tomato Sauce for Pasta (vegan, gluten-free, nightshade-free)
- Quinoa Spinach Mac & Cheese
- Sweet Potato Surprise (vegan, can be made gluten-free)

For more a more vegetarian recipes, look HERE

Vegetarian Recipe List

In an attempt to organize some of my recipe pins on Pinterest, I'm creating a 'table of contents' with links to the original recipe sites. In some cases I've noted that a recipe is gluten-free but many are gluten-free and not labeled.

Salads
- Alice Water's Lentil Salad (vegan)
- Avocado, Grapefruit & Shiso Salad (vegan)
- The Best Lentil Salad, Ever (vegan, gluten-free)
- Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette (vegan)
- Corsican Quinoa Salad (vegan, gluten-free)
- Crunchy Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad with Ginger Peanut Dressing (vegan, gluten-free)
- French Lentil Salad (vegan, gluten-free)
- Italian Pesto Pasta Salad
- Lentil Salad (vegan, gluten-free)
- Panzanella Caprese Salad
- Roasted Cauliflower & Mushroom Quinoa Salad in Balsamic Vinaigrette 
- Salted Edamame with Roasted Garlic & Herbs
- Smashed Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich (vegan, gluten-free)
- Spinach Salad with Chicken, Avocado, & Goat Cheese (gluten-free)
- Smoky Heirloom Tomato & Grilled Peach Pasta Salad with Basil Vinaigrette (skip the bacon)
- Wheat Berry Gazpacho Salad

Sides & Snacks
- Applesauce Muffins
- Baked Zucchini Sticks with Onion Dip
- Caramelized Onion & Carrot Stuffing (make with veggie stock)
- Cauliflower Fried Rice (contains egg, gluten-free, nightshade-free)
- Cauliflower Mashed "Potatoes" (gluten-free)
- Cheesy Quinoa (gluten-free)
- Cottage Cheese Bisquits
- Crispy Edamame (gluten-free)
- Eggnog Muffins 
- Marinated Summer Vegetables (vegan)
- Parmesan Brussels Sprouts Crostini
- Salted Coconut Sweet Potato Bites (vegan)
- Spaghetti Squash au Gratin (gluten-free)
- Spicy Pickled Vegetables (vegan)
- Spicy Sichuan Style Green Beans (vegan)
- Tandoori Gobhi (Cauliflower)
- Wok-Fried Edamame with Garlic (contains oyster sauce)
- White Bean Tapenade (vegan)

Soups
- Cauliflower-Apple Soup with Apple Cider Reduction (make with veggie stock)
- Cauliflower Soup with Truffle Oil & Parmesan (make with veggie stock)
- Fat Burning Soup (vegan)
- Indian Spiced Carrot Soup with Ginger (gluten-free)
- Sweet Potato Corn Chowder (vegan, gluten-free)
A List of Vegetarian Entrees & Pasta Dishes can be found HERE

YUM - Pistachio-crusted Halibut

I'm not much of a cook. To be clear, I can cook, and pretty well; I just don't do it but once a month or so. I don't like to mess up my kitchen, I'm the clean-as-you-go-type. I worry about everything being ready at the same time. I worry about everything being perfect. My husband and child are loathe to eat leftovers and I'm loathe to waste food. The combinations just don't work out well.

Anyway, I've been Pinning, you know, as in @Pinterest, like half the population, and food is a part of that. I've Pinned so many yummy looking recipes that I have actually succumbed to cooking on occasion.

Tonight was one of those occasions.

I'll definitely be making this halibut recipe again. Super easy, super quick and absolutely amazing.

The Pin / recipe came from the blog: Tartine and Apron Strings . I highly recommend you check it out, great pictures, great recipes and all sorts of dietary information (for instance, this recipe is Paleo-friendly).

Pistachio-Crusted Halibut with Fennel Balsamic Gastrique
I'm just posting the (modified -- see link above for original) halibut recipe because I wasn't all that enthusiastic about the fennel / tomato portion, although the shallots and balsamic reduction were amazing.  

Pistachio Crusted Halibut

1 1/2 pounds of halibut, cut into 3rds (fish monger will do this for you, if you ask)
1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 c pistachios, crushed or coarsely ground.

Wash and pat dry, with paper towels, halibut fillets. 
Whisk together oil & vinegar and pour on top of halibut in oven-safe dish. I turned the fillets over a couple of times in the dish to make sure they were sufficiently 'dipped' in oil. Marinate in 'fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400-415 degrees.
While pre-heating, remove halibut from 'fridge and coat topside generously with ground pistachios, pressing into fish.
Cook. The original recipe called for 8 minutes but I found that to be not nearly enough. Perhaps the filets I had were dramatically thicker; I'm not sure but I ended up cooking the dish for at least 20 minutes or so. Prior to serving, check thickest point with fork. You don't want to overcook but the fish should be opaque and flaky, not translucent.

Notes: 

- I had the halibut cut into 3rds since our family is one of 3, not 4.

- Somehow I missed reading the skinned part of the original recipe and finished the recipe with the skin on. It didn't make a huge difference, although I did press the pistachios into the other side, NOT the skin side, of the halibut.

- The original recipe calls for raw pistachios, crushed with a mortar and pestle. I couldn't find raw pistachios at my local grocer, so I went with salted and roasted shelled pistachios. To compensate, I skipped adding the sea salt mentioned in the original recipe. This was definitely the way to go; any additional salt would have been too much. I also, managed to break my mortar when grinding the pistachios, so I ended up throwing the pistachios into my Cuisinart for a coarse chop. 

-  None of the above changes hurt the end product.