Ed and I like to watch "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" on the Food Network (while I'm cursing people I should add my two sisters Julie and Erin for introducing me to the show!) EVERY TIME I watch his show I end up not being able to get my mind off the food that was throwndown until I make it. There is no other show, no anything, that has a power over me like this! Here are some of the things that I have made while under the Throwdown trance: Chocolate Chip cookies (that were good almost like the Ben's Cookies I have posted about in the past), Sticky Buns (those are sitting in my freezer- which is where I had to put them so I would stop eating them), lasagna (I made that one healthier as I do most of the recipes and I posted it), chili (although this one I was already making for Sunday dinner when we just happened to watch an episode about chili) and then there was pie. The pie and chili were our Sunday double feature. The entire family was salivating because I turned Throwdown on while we were all still fasting. I know not smart. So having the chili to break our fast was a good thing. But when were done we were all, really still thinking about the Blackberry Peach Pie Bobby made and won with. So--I made it(I was lucky enough to have both those fruits in my freezer) and it WAS awesome. Ed didn't want me to ruin the peach/blackberry (peach is one of his favorite fruits, being a southerner) by trying whole wheat in the crust, like I ruined the hockypucks ... I mean-biscuits I made on Easter. So I made an apple pie as well trying whole wheat in the crust. They were both amazing! I did use some white flour in the crust as well as the whole wheat but I honestly liked that crust better than the all white flour crust! I used all the regular stuff in the crust like you'd expect shortening, flour, salt and water, but picked up the hot tip of grating a little bit of cold butter into the dough as well. I haven't successfully made a crust in years- honestly. I have failed so many crusts in the past that I had gone strictly to using store bought roll-out crust when I need to make a "homemade" pie. I also am embarrassed to admit that although I have made plenty of pies in my life I honestly don't remember a time that I have made a two crust fruit filled pie by myself with no help. Usually its a cream pie or strawberry or pumpkin or something with one crust. So I was really excited to see if I had it in me. I was worried it would turn out too runny or crumbling apart or something, but I was an actual success! We have been eating pie ALL week-DARN YOU Bobby Flay!
This is a picture of Bobby's Blackberry Peach abomination.
Last night I watched another Throwdown. You are going to tell me to stop watching them, but there is no way THAT'S going to happen. This one was soft pretzels. I have always loved soft pretzels in all their over priced, 3 dollars per ounce or two of high-carb, low-fiber, doughy, salty, buttery glory. So I didn't stand a chance. He even had a recipe for pablano cheese dip to accompany it. So today yep I made pretzels (with whole wheat). It is now out of my system. They were no Auntie Anne's (those are my favorite) but they were pretty good and I ate my fair share. DARN YOU Bobby Flay! 
Bobby's pretzels
The next one is Cheesecake. That frightens me. I have never made a baked cheesecake ever. There are a few reasons: 1)you have to have a special pan 2) you have to let it rest for a really long time like overnight or something, I feel like it right then not a day later! 3) it takes like 5 blocks of cream cheese which I never have that much on hand 4) they are just way to fattening -to have the ability to make it would be far too dangerous 5) Mine would never in a million years turn out as good as the Cheesecake Factory's and so what's the point? The fear is there though and its real. Because like I said his Show has a hold on me, every time I watch it I have to make it! I think its because watching them make it, I can see the steps and the tricks and then believe that I CAN actually do it. And the food looks so so good. Bobby Flay- I am NOT going to make your freakin' Cheesecake! I'm on a diet for cryin' out loud!
7 comments:
"I have always loved soft pretzels in all their over priced, 3 dollars per ounce or two of high-carb, low-fiber, doughy, salty, buttery glory."
Alisa, that is one very descriptive, perfectly put sentence. It says it all and you made me laugh out loud! I loved reading about all your cooking escapades! I wish I had the desire to cook. It's not that I don't like cooking, but I certainly don't enjoy it as much as you do. I saw that pretzel show but haven't seen the pie throwdown. I'll be looking for it, though.
Wish I could be one of your taste testers. You go girl!
I love Throwdown also. But I haven't attempted to make any of the similar recipes - now I want to try!
As for Cheesecake - I have a couple of recipes that are really good and I haven't messed up on them. I have even made them with reduced fat cream cheese and they still turned out! Let me know if you want them and I can e-mail them or post them on my blog.
We don't have cable so I haven't seen Throwdown for a while. It was one of Ken's favorite, along with Emeril, so we watched it alot. I had never thought to try to make one of the recipes though. That's a great idea though because they give you alot of details on how they come up with their recipe. I'm so impressed!
My kids do go to a charter school. They were homeschooled for the last 4 years. The homeschool is new this year and this is the first one in our area. I LOVE it! It's been an answer to my prayers. There is only 1 class per grade and this year they started out k-8 but my 6 year old didn't get in so she is in regular public school. My older 3 are at the charter school.
Uh....DARN YOU Alisa! I have seen that pie throwdown but didn't make it for fear of all the calories, but thanks for showing the picture and reminding me. Because guess what? Now I have to make that peach/blackberry pie! So that's why I'm cursing you! Just wait til he comes to your town b/c then you will have to go to the place and try it like I did w/ those crepes. I will curse mom and dad for introducing me to the show and me introducing it to you. I better get to the store to get my ingredients! But what about my diet?!
I admire you for your ambition in the kitchen....what's a diet anyway?? I live to eat vs. eating to live like my friend who just found out she was allergic to everything under the sun--Anyway, I would have no problem just watching that show without trying to make it afterward 'cuz I KNOW for a fact that whatever I attempted would absolutely NOT turn out like his or whoever whipped it up for that matter! wish I could try a piece of your pie though:)
I'm the same way with Rachael Ray, with the exception that I haven't actually tried to make anything yet - I'm not that brave, and I suppose that's what's saving me! (I'm trying to be on that nasty thing called a "diet" too!)
you crack me up!! i am a sucker for bobby flay too! i was watching him before bed last night (and i am always hungry at this hour) and he was doing the philly cheesesteak throwdown. oh my gosh! i had cheesesteak dreams! i have never tried one of his recipes. mostly because i never have his high quality ingredients on hand. but your pie sounds soooo delicious. promise me you will make it when you come to town or when i come down???
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