Apple Hazelnut Dessert Buns with Rum Sauce (Recipe)

Just a couple of weeks ago, I posted a recipe created by my wife and the response was overwhelmingly positive.  Her wholesome mushroom soup was just the thing for the bleak weather we've been having, and not one person minded her guest spot.  Seeing the potential to stay out of the kitchen and prepare for the new Magic: The Gathering set release, I decided to let her do the cooking and steal from her once again, although this time it's a dessert I wanted to highlight. 

Atomic Chicken (Recipe)

It's not often I tease a blog post ahead of time as I've been doing on Facebook and Twitter; I also don't usually plan out my blog topics more than a week in advance.  The Atomic Chicken, however, has been on my mind for some time.  Years, in fact.  In "real life," I earn a living as the custodial supervisor for the local college.  Each year in January, before students return from their Christmas break, the various bosses in the facilities department get together for a chili cook-off.  However, unlike the start of the school year barbecue (which is matched by a pizza party for the graveyard shift), there is no equivalent event for those custodians who work at night; it is a day shift tradition only, and until August of this year I worked at night.  Except, that is, briefly at the beginning of 2007.  That year, I joined the day staff as a regular custodian just a week or two before the chili event.  I came, and I ate, but I didn't contribute.  While I enjoyed (most) of what I had, one thing was missing.  Heat.  Those of you who have been with me over a year may recall that I'm somewhat of a pepper belly.  A chili cook-off devoid of spice just seemed wrong.  As fate would have it, I didn't make it to 2008's chili feed; I was back on the night crew.  So when I rejoined the day staff as supervisor this past August, one of the first questions I asked my crew was "are they still doing that chili thing?"

Get Well Mushroom Soup (Recipe)

The last time we spoke, I proudly proclaimed that one of the major reasons why posts were so few and far between during the holidays was because I wanted to spend time with my family.  This was true, but it wasn't the only thing keeping me away from the computer.  The stomach flu (which is not really a flu at all) rampaged through our house over Christmas break.  Wife works at a daycare, where all sorts of nasty germs are brought in each day, and she was the first to have it.  Our friend Grasshopper was next, ill on Christmas day.  Then Boy, then Mother-in-Law and finally (just as I though I'd escape,) me.  So as we all took turns quarantined in front of Netflix on the couch, I wasn't thinking much about artfully staged plates or which angle to stand to keep my shadow off of the onions.  Luckily the same couldn't be said for Wife.  

The Griddle (Review)

Another blog, another restaurant review.  Another BREAKFAST review, no less.  But don't worry; I haven't forgotten about cooking.  I just didn't take my camera into the kitchen much over the holidays.  I'll let bigger fish in the blogging sea tell you how to make candy cane pancakes or eggnog creme brulee.  I spent a good long time just enjoying being with my family, and as a result hardly logged on to the computer at all.  One of my New Year's resolutions was to treat Catfish's Dishes more like a real job, but I couldn't justify working over the holidays when everyone was together at last.