CT's Waffles

I think I was prepared for the worst this month with another looming lockdown and the onset of frigid weather, but I managed to make it out of January (relatively) unscathed. I blogged about an old fave, a couple of new faves, and a new project I’m excited about. Here are the other things that happened in the kitchen:

  • For some reason I’ve taken a renewed interest in Chrissy Teigen’s cookbooks this month, particularly the breakfast chapters. I made her Crispy Parmesan Waffles (pictured above) and another surprisingly delicious recipe I’ll post about separately soon. Side note: I had never made a sunny-side up egg before this recipe and I’m now obsessed.
  • I woke up one Saturday this month with the inexplicable motivation to make Cinnamon Rolls. I re-visited this recipe from the archives and was underwhelmed with the results (I mean I ate them all, but still). To select a new recipe to try, I hopped over to The Pancake Princess blog to read this post.  Erika is amazing and does these bake-offs where she tests like nine or twelve recipes for the same type of baked good and analyzes the results in extreme detail. Required reading for a baking nerd such as myself!
  • And now the regular recap of what I was cooking this month, broken down into three categories:
  • Stuff I made from the archives:  Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito Bowls (and not a dinner recipe, but I made a batch of Pretzel M&M Cookies after Danielle alerted me and Kristine that they’re back in Canada!)
  • Some of my favourite go-to dishes:  BBQ Meatballs + 5 Cup Salad, Brown Sugar & Chili Rubbed Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner from Oven to Table, Baked Crispy Chicken Taquitos (now blogged!), Soy Ginger Eggs with Rice & Pickled Cucumber (triumphant return!)
  • New things that I tried and liked: Mushroom & Goat Cheese Strata, Sesame Chicken with Chili Lime Cashews, Chrissy’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps
  • Take-out: We have Blondie’s Pizza now in Mississauga & Oakville! I tried two: Cold Drink / Hot Girl (pepperoni, pickled jalapenos, honey, tomato sauce) and Scarlet Sunrise (mushrooms, kale, pickled onion, truffle oil, alfredo sauce). The crust reminds me of King Taps! Can’t wait to try more.

Other non-foodie things I was obsessed with this month:

  • The Planet Byn Bookclub™ met to discuss Barack Obama’s memoir A Promised Land this month. This book is heavy (figuratively and literally), and I only made it about halfway through. I loved the beginning, which is about Barack’s journey to the White House, but once he started diving into the 2008 financial crisis, it became a bit like reading a textbook. Don’t get me wrong, I learned a lot, but it’s a bit much for a January book. I had some requests for escapist fare for February, so next up we’re diving into the The Duke & I and The Viscount Who Loved Me (this is the book series Bridgerton is based on!).
  • I saved four shows to watch over the Christmas/New Year’s break and liked them all: Season 4 of The Crown, Bridgerton, The Undoing and The Queen’s Gambit. I also watched Industry this month which was not a relaxing watch. Of course I’m obsessed with Matt James 919’s season of The Bachelor (the hottest Bachelor ever). It’s weird watching him in real life (via my TV) after following him on IG for like two years. His personality doesn’t seem to be coming through on the show, and I can’t tell if he’s just really nervous or they’re editing him in a boring way.
  • I just absolutely sobbed my way through the Biden/Harris Inauguration, but primarily when Kamala took her oath. A historic moment for all women, but especially women of colour.

Flashback!