tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65998735783181120452024-03-13T07:07:58.470-07:00Holliday's Mountain CafeWelcome to Holliday's Mountain Cafe! Here you will find my dinner adventures and recipes, as well as tips and techniques for creating tasties in the kitchen. I'll also keep you posted on my crafty side with patterns and projects du jour. Finally, being as passionate as I am about a good beverage, I'll make sure to let everyone know what I'm enjoying these days. Enjoy!Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-85374805224433804752012-11-07T21:54:00.001-08:002012-11-08T06:45:35.379-08:00Spicy Shrimp Chowdah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AEeCn254OnY/UJs-Rp583SI/AAAAAAAAAcM/p_imja7ECIs/s1600/544793_865302225476_722517480_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AEeCn254OnY/UJs-Rp583SI/AAAAAAAAAcM/p_imja7ECIs/s200/544793_865302225476_722517480_n.jpg" width="200"></a></div>
After a long absence it is time to dust off the pots and pans, shake off the cobwebs and get back to making some tasty food! The past 6 months have been a time of transition for me, moving from Astoria, OR back to Missoula, MT and settling back into the mountains. It was a fun summer, filled with camping, swimming, traveling, music and whatever else we could pack into the sunny days. Everything it seemed except cooking. But now I am back with one of the best dishes I have eaten in a very long time - Spicy Shrimp Chowdah.<br>
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</div><a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/11/spicy-shrimp-chowdah.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-19169476190628176112012-02-14T12:40:00.000-08:002012-02-14T12:40:53.116-08:00First Try at Chibatta Bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a2VNNjZkW18/TzhHcaVO_oI/AAAAAAAAAbo/fu5GZnXYAb8/s1600/DSC_0158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a2VNNjZkW18/TzhHcaVO_oI/AAAAAAAAAbo/fu5GZnXYAb8/s320/DSC_0158.JPG" width="320"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">I love fresh baked bread. There is just something about the smell of baking bread that takes a person home. Even though we didn’t bake bread much when I was growing up, I think the smell just makes any place feel like home. After mastering focaccia bread, I have been feeling confident in my bread baking abilities, so I decided to move on to another, more complicated Italian bread: chibatta.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/02/first-try-at-chibatta-bread.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-59624915107169479242012-02-12T15:03:00.000-08:002012-02-12T15:33:56.639-08:00Saucy Shrimp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DyIzMrlXZj4/TzhEPSQ4rtI/AAAAAAAAAag/gd1BXuGNlg4/s1600/DSC_0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DyIzMrlXZj4/TzhEPSQ4rtI/AAAAAAAAAag/gd1BXuGNlg4/s320/DSC_0129.JPG" width="320"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">There has been a bottle of tequila sitting on my fridge for about 3 months now with just about 2ish shots left in it. I am not a tequila drinker that often, and I honestly can’t remember why I bought it in the first place, but it has slowly been emptied whenever I get in the mood for a margarita. This week though I had a coupon of $2 off a seafood purchase at the store and since $2 worth of shrimp is just right for one person, I figured it was time to make a recipe that I have been wanting to try for a long time. I am calling this dish “Saucy Shrimp”, but it really is a tequila lime shrimp pasta, but does the title really matter? A rose by any other name…</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/02/saucy-shrimp.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-38931804178102586762012-02-07T16:22:00.000-08:002012-02-07T16:22:41.779-08:00Chicken with Spicy Sour Cream Sauce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRlJHPy1IZA/Ty3AGsWP_NI/AAAAAAAAAZY/zFEQwEBWWTU/s1600/DSC_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRlJHPy1IZA/Ty3AGsWP_NI/AAAAAAAAAZY/zFEQwEBWWTU/s320/DSC_0128.JPG" width="320"></a></div>This is a recipe only post of a very delicious spicy chicken I made the other night. I have been dealing with some personal issues and have not had much energy for cooking or writing about my creations so this weekend I'm playing a little catch up. I made this chicken as a quick dinner one night and was amazed at how tasty it turned out. The cream sauce was spicy and had a good sour cream taste to balance the kick out. I served it over my <a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2011/12/mexican-rice-and-chicken-tacos.html" target="_blank">Mexican Rice</a> and added some corn and green onion to it for some added freshness. It was a perfect, quick meal that took my mind off the world at large and the things that have been making my life complicated in recent days. Enjoy!<br>
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<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/02/chicken-with-spicy-sour-cream-sauce.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-49354005514698637292012-02-05T14:04:00.000-08:002012-02-05T14:04:44.703-08:00Pizza Roll-Ups<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IcjXf8mjuUc/Ty24yzcwGoI/AAAAAAAAAZI/9t6QLYvq_iM/s1600/DSC_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IcjXf8mjuUc/Ty24yzcwGoI/AAAAAAAAAZI/9t6QLYvq_iM/s320/DSC_0123.JPG" width="320"></a></div>I don't know about any of you but I love pizza pockets but I hate how heavy and greasy I feel after. I found <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Mozzarella-Sticks-2?pmcode=IKLDC05S&_mid=838832&_rid=838832.650200.781355" target="_blank">this recipe</a> on Pinterest and decided to spend a night and modify it into some kind of pizza roll-up with tasty fresh ingredients. Apparently though, Astoria grocery stores do not believe in egg roll wrappers so I had to go with plan B: phyllo dough. Not a big deal, nothing is better then improvising in the kitchen, some of my favorite meals have come from cooking this way. Not only was I feeling adventurous, but it was the Civil War basketball game and I knew I wanted some kind of finger food to enjoy while watching the game.<br>
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<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/02/pizza-roll-ups.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-75820809640073141162012-02-04T14:54:00.000-08:002012-02-04T14:54:59.891-08:00Crispy Curry Chicken<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IxwRUykIZP0/Ty2qZIg72yI/AAAAAAAAAXw/M-kcZ4Rzz3g/s1600/DSC_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IxwRUykIZP0/Ty2qZIg72yI/AAAAAAAAAXw/M-kcZ4Rzz3g/s320/DSC_0113.JPG" width="320"></a></div>I like curry, it is one of my favorite spices and I am always trying to find new and interesting ways to use it. Sadly, outside of curry chicken and rice and curry stir-fry, most recipes call for a slow-cooker or ingredients that aren't readily available or within my single person budget. In the past I had made chicken tenders with curry in the panko, but I knew there had to be a way to make that dinner a little bit more grown up. So I did what any modern cook does to find a new recipe - I googled it. There were quite a few recipes for basic crispy chicken with curry flavors but one stood out at <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/fried-curry-chicken/detail.aspx" target="_blank">AllRecipies</a>. It called for chicken to be marinated in a curry yogurt sauce and then breaded and fried in butter. Sounded good but it seemed so heavy and I knew if there was a way to lighten it up I could find it. <br>
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<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/02/crispy-curry-chicken.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-57852402461967973792012-01-30T14:06:00.000-08:002012-01-31T09:55:37.763-08:00Enchilada Lasagna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_elNFb1d4Z4/Tyb9y1rmOjI/AAAAAAAAAWk/p-grbbbJ-G4/s1600/DSC_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_elNFb1d4Z4/Tyb9y1rmOjI/AAAAAAAAAWk/p-grbbbJ-G4/s320/DSC_0082.JPG" width="320"></a></div>I'll say right off that this was not going to be the meal I wrote about over the weekend (sorry for the Monday post - was internet-less all weekend) but the dish I was so excited to make and try turned out to be a huge flop. I had intended to write about making <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/portuguese-beef---cacoila/" target="_blank">this</a>, but it turned out terrible. I have no idea what went wrong, but my meat was tough and the marinade was like getting punched in the face by a drunk orange. Needless to say I tossed Thursday's dinner and settled for a Ramen stir-fry. My ego was bruised still the next day so I decided to go with a stand-by with ingredients I had in my pay-day-is-still-4-days-away fridge. While this isn't a single person meal, it will provide about 5 meals after dinner and is one of those dishes that gets more flavorful the longer it is in the fridge.<br>
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<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/enchilada-lasagna.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-72683071680624660592012-01-26T11:20:00.000-08:002012-01-27T11:10:24.372-08:00Whiskey Steak with Roasted Mushroom and Asparagus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VNANNyuwUqo/TyF-lR41VKI/AAAAAAAAAUg/7QJgkqKh8d0/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VNANNyuwUqo/TyF-lR41VKI/AAAAAAAAAUg/7QJgkqKh8d0/s320/DSC_0036.JPG" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>All photos by Holliday</i></td></tr>
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</a>I wanted to challenge myself last night and try to make a complete meal from scratch. Since I live alone I am constantly on the lookout for meals that can be tailored down to serve one without many leftovers. I am burnt out on chicken so I headed out to the store to find a small steak to cook up and a small bunch of asparagus. Well, there really isn't such thing around these parts - most food is sold in portions for at the very least two people... two people with mammoth appetites. Maybe I just never noticed it before, but a small packet of sirloin steak (1 lb) is enough to make 4 single meals out of. And since the meat was on sale for about $4/lb I went for it. My initial plan was to buy a single small steak at the butchers, but the packaged 2-pack (of the same cut) was a better price - don't as me why, I just grabbed the smallest packet before I got cornered by the expansive family of 5 following me around the store.<br>
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<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/whiskey-steak-with-roasted-mushroom-and.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-86542350328428256312012-01-24T15:10:00.000-08:002012-01-24T15:10:34.013-08:00Pan Seared Chicken with Mushroom Wine Sauce<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LfPdmcL4iU8/Tx7alIKnB2I/AAAAAAAAASk/JnDVqKehIFQ/s1600/DSC_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LfPdmcL4iU8/Tx7alIKnB2I/AAAAAAAAASk/JnDVqKehIFQ/s320/DSC_0023.JPG" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photos by Holliday</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I am a huge fan of cream of mushroom soup. It is versatile, easy to make and inexpensive - whats not to like? Well the nutritional content for one and two, when cooking for just one person leaves quite a bit left over. Unless you want to be eating cream of mushroom based meals for the next 3 days, cracking open a can may be a little wasteful. Granted, a can of condensed soup doesn't cost very much, but I just can't bring myself to throw out half a can and putting leftovers in my fridge seem to just turn into mush. There are times that cream of mushroom is ideal, even for leftovers: tuna casserole, chicken and rice casserole, Mexican casserole... I'm sure you can see a pattern here. Well, I've been on a mushroom kick this past week and last night was no exception. I had been craving chicken with mushrooms all day so as soon as I got home I pulled out my notebook and started figuring out a game plan to make a healthier and smaller version of a favorite dinner.<br>
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<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/pan-seared-chicken-with-mushroom-wine.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-81051872783883432622012-01-20T15:41:00.000-08:002012-01-20T15:41:31.035-08:00Breakfast for Dinner: Mushroom Carbonara<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rvI46ZozZtw/TxnhMZjk7uI/AAAAAAAAARk/wEFxP0G8m4Y/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rvI46ZozZtw/TxnhMZjk7uI/AAAAAAAAARk/wEFxP0G8m4Y/s320/DSC_0025.JPG" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>All photos by Holliday</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table> Wednesday was one of those days you wish you were curled up on the couch watching trashy day-time TV and eating breakfast at 1 in the afternoon. It just seemed to drag on and on... I like my job and I like what I do, but once in a while I find my mind on Sunday morning breakfast knowing I have nothing to do all day but relax and watch football. Then I snap back to reality and am sad because I really could use a fried egg and some bacon. Well, when I got home Wednesday night I decided to treat myself to breakfast but quickly realized I was out of bread and potatoes so I had to come up with a Plan B: a meal that was <i>like</i> breakfast, but in fact was dinner. <br>
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<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/breakfast-for-dinner-mushroom-carbonara.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-91497065032175051782012-01-19T15:50:00.000-08:002012-01-19T15:50:27.286-08:00My Apologies Friends...I had planned on writing about my tasty Breakfast Carbonara I had for dinner last night but ended up sewing until way past my bedtime and I just didn't have enough time this morning to write before leaving for work! Please accept this picture of a guy watching Old Faithful erupt at 6am as consolation and check back tomorrow for my post!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MqVIQVwdUKs/Txir6-RYgSI/AAAAAAAAARU/rDxB2mGpBVU/s1600/IMG00699-20100809-2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MqVIQVwdUKs/Txir6-RYgSI/AAAAAAAAARU/rDxB2mGpBVU/s400/IMG00699-20100809-2005.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sketch by Holliday 2010</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-74685401474616851312012-01-18T11:18:00.000-08:002012-01-18T11:18:18.185-08:00Kitchen Sink Tomato Soup and Tuna Cheddar Quesadillas<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lw4WgEfpvWY/Txb8zs96DFI/AAAAAAAAAQE/OplsQQp2JXs/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lw4WgEfpvWY/Txb8zs96DFI/AAAAAAAAAQE/OplsQQp2JXs/s320/DSC_0024.JPG" width="320"></a></div>It is only Tuesday night and I'm already wishing it was Friday! I'm not sure why but I've just been dragging like crazy and been somewhat out of sorts. Maybe it is because winter finally decided to come to the coast and all the wonderful snow has been replaced by muddy slush. Or maybe it is the damp grayness that is everywhere. Or maybe I'm just having one of those weeks. Whatever the case, I was in serious need of some comfort last night and I knew exactly how to make that happen. A bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Only problem was, all I had of that combination was cheese and I had absolutely no energy to dig through my change and head to the store for a can of tomato soup and a loaf of bread. Good thing I did have enough energy to put on cozy sweats and thick socks and throw together a healthy and delicious tomato soup from what I had left in my empty fridge (and I only opened one can!).<br>
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<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/kitchen-sink-tomato-soup-and-tuna.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-84188374140637003892012-01-17T08:44:00.000-08:002012-01-18T11:38:21.477-08:00Mushroom Chowdah<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R0MOemZPbhU/TxcfhkM8ucI/AAAAAAAAARE/NmncNH1bZho/s1600/IMG_20120115_113356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R0MOemZPbhU/TxcfhkM8ucI/AAAAAAAAARE/NmncNH1bZho/s200/IMG_20120115_113356.jpg" width="200"></a></div>It started really snowing here in Astoria sometime on Saturday night. I woke up Sunday morning to a blanket, well, more like a sheet of wet snow outside. My heart jumped and I was instantly back in Montana, getting ready to head out and meet friends for some play off football action. Then it started drizzling and I was back in Oregon, with wet hems and a broken windshield wiper. I still was heading out to watch football and grab a bite to eat, but there was something missing. I spent most of Sunday and Monday thinking about a way to feel right at home and take advantage of these snowy days when it hit me…. I needed to make a hearty soup to warm my soul.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/mushroom-chowdah.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-33429802771374531372012-01-14T16:14:00.000-08:002012-01-14T16:14:17.202-08:00Cast Iron Breakfast: Baked Farmhouse EggsThe best thing about the weekend is sleeping in late and eating breakfast for lunch. I have been spoiled lately and been going out to Buoy 9 or the Labor Temple for a plate loaded high with potatoes, bacon and fried eggs... oh - and grease. I guess that is what makes it a special weekend treat, but that got me thinking... how can make something just as wonderful, but at home with half the weight...<div></div><a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/cast-iron-breakfast-baked-farmhouse.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-16849638084515059252012-01-11T11:26:00.000-08:002012-01-12T10:07:30.472-08:00Snow Ghosts, Yellow Snow and Powder HoundsThis is my first winter away from Montana snow and ice, but I'm not letting that stop me from enjoying some of my favorite winter traditions here in Astoria. To me, winter is a time to cozy under warm blankets in front of a toasty stove and enjoy a good movie, or bundling up with scarves, gloves, jackets, sweater, wool socks, boots and knitted hats to brave the cold from the car to the brewery in order to enjoy some good times with friends while snow gently falls outside. I have fond memories of laying under layers of blankets listening to the steam pipes knock and the radiator hiss while people crunch by in the snow below my apartment window and snow plows scrape by in the road. There is a certain crispness to everything, from speaking to the taste of a hot mocha, when there is snow on the ground and somehow 616 miles from Missoula MT I have been able to capture winter, sip by sip, in some of my favorite brews.<br>
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<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/snow-ghosts-yellow-snow-and-powder.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-14177052805072034372012-01-09T11:23:00.000-08:002012-01-11T14:12:20.901-08:00Spicy Turkey Croquettes with Avocado SauceWe are into week 2 of 2012 and I think I'm ready to start the new-year-self-overhaul. I did not do any resolutions this year because I think they are a way to set yourself up for disappointment later in the year (I didn't lose 20 pounds by my birthday? I haven't run 3 miles each day? booo me), therefore I have made myself a Feel Better Commitment. I am not going to measure my success by pounds lost or miles run but by how I feel, physically and emotionally. I knew I was on the right path when I started singing in the shower yesterday morning and forgoing my usual cup of Friday morning coffee last week. With this new found spring in my step I tackled the pile of recipes to find something that wasn't fried or swimming in cream sauce. And, with a little tweaking I found the perfect dinner to celebrate my Feel Better Commitment jump-off. <br>
<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/spicy-turkey-croquettes-with-avocado.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-34415134295549430402012-01-05T11:03:00.000-08:002012-01-11T14:13:02.299-08:00Avocado FriesIt's Thursday way-too-early morning (anyone else up at 5:30 today?) and I've hit my working week wall. Tonight I'll be going down to Corvallis to the OSU Beavers basketball game and then sleeping in the car all the way back to Astoria, getting up again tomorrow and finishing off my week. Needless to say I'm low on energy. Good thing I was planning on posting my Avocado Fries on a low energy day! I made these the other night and was hooked. I'm not sure if it was the warm outside with smooth avocado on the inside, or just making a sinfully decadent treat that I didn't have to share with anybody, but they were amazing.<br>
<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/avocado-fries.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-9119883896978094012012-01-04T16:32:00.000-08:002012-01-05T14:06:29.310-08:00Dearest Friends and Followers,I, like everyone else I'm sure, can't stand self-promotion or friends asking friends to "check out my site!" or "add me to your home page!" or "follow meeeee!!". However, trying to gently promote myself around the hundreds? thousands? of food blogs in order to expand and reach more people has yielded little success. Many blog forums require either a minimum number of published months or a minimum number of subscribed followers to be eligible to share posts. Therefore I am asking those of you who visit my blog regularly, or occasionally give me a hand with my minimums.<br>
<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/dearest-friends-and-followers.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-65848756006145221182012-01-04T08:31:00.000-08:002012-01-11T14:13:46.751-08:00Crispy Jack ChickenI like Chicken Parmesan. It is so easy to make and a perfect combination of crisp and cheese and tomato is hard to pass up. So why change what is a tried and true recipe? To try something new but still familiar. Also, with the holidays past us, now is a good time to start lightening up what is made in the kitchen so last night I decided to tweak an old standby with some new, lighter flavors. Let's face it - Chicken Parm isn't the leanest dish out there.<br>
<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/crispy-jack-chicken.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-14846953576047473272012-01-02T07:53:00.000-08:002012-01-03T09:04:40.588-08:00Southwest Sweet Potato and Corn ChowderThere is something about a hearty soup that makes a person feel all warm and cozy. Who doesn't like to curl up on a Sunday night with a hot bowl of soup and watch a movie (sorry Giants/Cowboys). One of my favorite soups to make is Southwest Corn Chowder. It has chunks of red pepper and sweet potato and a generous helping of corn and spices to make this a well rounded and delicious soup.<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2012/01/southwest-sweet-potato-and-corn-chowder.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-11389226583680919412011-12-29T14:07:00.000-08:002012-01-11T14:14:30.382-08:00Chicken with Caper Cream SauceSean Kelly's in Missoula has (or had, hopefully still has) a chicken alfredo with bacon and capers that I was pretty much obsessed with for 2 years. It was the perfect balance of some of my favorite things to eat. I have scrounged the internet since I moved to Astoria to find a recipe that tasted the same. Yeah, I know I could just throw chicken and capers and bacon into an alfredo, but somehow that just didn't do it for me. I finally found what I was looking for, well, sorta.<br>
<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2011/12/chicken-with-caper-cream-sauce.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-32234571802372336212011-12-29T07:59:00.000-08:002011-12-29T15:28:38.183-08:00How to Make a Quick Pan Sauce, or Why You Should Drink Wine While CookingI like to use as few pans as possible while making dinner. It cuts down on dishes, but also keeps flavors balanced. Sometimes it isn't practical or possible to use just one cooking pan, but more often then not, you can get away with just one. Knowing how to make a good pan sauce will help the one pan meal cause. Plus it is a great excuse to have a glass of wine while cooking.<a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-make-quick-pan-sauce-or-why-you.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-29481972343859701762011-12-27T08:07:00.000-08:002011-12-27T12:31:03.077-08:00Spicy Garlic Chicken with Mushroom Broccoli RiceI often find myself in a rut. A chicken rut. Baked chicken, sauteed chicken, skillet chicken, chicken with rice, chicken with pasta..... They will hold any spice or preparation you can throw at it. Last night I wanted to do a BBQ chicken dinner to mix it up from my usual preparation with the oven or range. So before leaving the house yesterday I pulled some chicken thighs out of the freezer and watched the sky all day.<br><a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2011/12/spicy-garlic-chicken-with-mushroom.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-29890330594118908202011-12-24T11:53:00.000-08:002011-12-24T12:10:03.411-08:00A Christmas Treat<div>Happy Christmas Eve to all! No cooking tonight, but have a little Straight No Chaser treat on me. A merry and safe Christmas to all! </div><div><br /></div><iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2Fe11OlMiz8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div><b>Holliday's Margarita</b></div><div><br /></div><div>2 parts tequila</div><div>1/2 part Grand Marnier</div><div>2 parts lime juice</div><div>Ice</div><div>Coarse salt</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Pour all ingredients in a glass, shake briskly</div><div>2. Use a slice of lime to wet the rim of your glass and dip in salt.</div><div>3. Pour drink in salted glass and garnish with a lime </div><div>4. Drink, enjoy, repeat </div>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6599873578318112045.post-31940930210894406632011-12-23T09:21:00.000-08:002011-12-23T12:51:19.963-08:00Nonstick and Stainless and Cast Iron, Oh My!Last night I walked into an empty house. My things were there, well most of my things at least. Without going into any major detail, my ex-boyfriend/roommate decided to pack up all of his things yesterday and sneak out while I was at work, leaving me with a trashed house, an interesting hole in the wall, and a very scared kitten. All easy fixes, no problem, I'm better off now, etc.... I did a walk around and inventoried what was left, or rather what wasn't left. A couple towels are gone, so is all my bedding and the last of the beer I brought home from Montana. Again, no issue, all that can be replaced after work tonight. Then I got to the kitchen. <a href="http://hollidaysmtncafe.blogspot.com/2011/12/nonstick-and-stainless-and-cast-iron-oh.html#more">Read more »</a>Hollidayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12491868279472776667noreply@blogger.com0