Salmon and Asparagus

My mom's favorite dinner.  I made two different salmon fillets, one with brown sugar and one with sauteed onions.  I laid both salmon fillets in a pan and brushed them with melted butter.  One salmon I covered with brown sugar and the other I covered with sauteed onions and garlic.  Then I baked the fillets for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.  I also made some steamed asparagus to go with the salmon and some sourdough garlic bread.

Tiramisu

My favorite dessert to eat and make!  The first step is to make the custard.  This is made with 6 egg yolks, 3/4 C of sugar, and 2/3 C of whole milk.  I cook this in a double boiler and once it is thick, I put this custard in the refrigerator to cool.  Once it is cool, I add one pound of mascarpone cheese to it.  Then you build the tiramisu just like a lasagna.  In a square pan, layer lady fingers covering the bottom of the pan that have been dipped in equal parts rum and coffee.  The next layer is the custard, spread smooth, and then add a layer of whip cream and sprinkle with cocoa powder.  Then repeat everything for one more layer.

Potato and Pear Soup

I had a bunch of potatoes that I needed to cook and I really felt like making a potato soup.  I cubed about 2 pounds of potatoes and then cubed 2 pears.  I added them to a stock pot and put enough chicken stock in to just cover the potatoes.  I let this cook until the potatoes were tender.  Then I added some cream and some thyme.  It was really amazing.

Bagels

The most amazing bagels I've ever had.  Made with warm water, yeast, sugar, bread flour (bread flour versus all purpose flour, very important), salt, and oil.  Once you grow the yeast, which takes about 5 minutes, you add the flour and knead for about 5 minutes.  Then you let the dough rise, I usually do this on top of the refrigerator.  I make them in 12 bagel batches, usually 4 kinds; cheddar jalapeno, asiago green chile, cinnamon raisin, and craisins.  Once you form the 12 balls of dough, you create a hole in the center and boil them for about a minute a side in almost boiling water.  Then lay them all out on a baking sheet and bake them until golden.