Pinterest has been tempting me for months, but the last thing I needed was another online activity. My resistance was firm until Trish created the Pin It and Do It challenge. Even the button is adorable. How could I not start pinning?
My recipe board began to grow and this week I decided to start experimenting with a few pins. First up was a Chicken Stir-Fry with Asparagus and Cashews from Food & Wine magazine. This was a big hit with the family. I followed the recipe exactly, but omitted the chives. Asian fish sauce and oyster sauce were special purchases for this recipe, but I know I'll make it again.
Encouraged by success, I went back to my board the following night and tried Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia courtesy of Rachel Ray. This was simple and delicious. I didn't have fresh parsley and used dried. Next time I'll be sure to have fresh on hand, it would give the dish a little more color. A minute or two under the broiler might be good, too.
We went three for three on Friday with this recipe for Marinated Pork Medallions. I didn't get my act together in time to marinade overnight, but that didn't seem to matter. All day was adequate. The grill rack made cooking a breeze. We had no leftovers.
This makes me a 'Timid Pinner' (1-3 pins), but there's a cake recipe I want to try later this weekend. I may just end up being 'Pinterested' (4-7 pins). Thanks, Trish, for hosting this challenge. Pinterest is fun!
Are you are on Pinterest? I'm pinning as LakesideMusing... come follow me.
Yay for Trish! That Pinterest challenge is so much fun. All three recipes you tried look awesome. I don't have one of those grilling cage things. That looks pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteBeth F - I bought that grilling cage last spring and never used it, but it's come in handy 3 or 4 times so far this year.
DeleteI have been avoiding Pinterest (a time suck I do not need), but have many IRL friends that are having a blast there. So I may cave. The Tilapia looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteNise' - It really hasn't taken up as much time as I thought. Pinning recipes to try later has been very convenient!
DeleteIt looks like Pinterest has been a big success for you! I want to come eat with you.
ReplyDeleteKathy - It really has! Come join us any time :-)
DeleteI hadn't heard of that Pinterest challenge, but I do store all of my recipes 'for the future' on Pinterest (including my selection for today's Weekend Cooking!). Your results look fantastic!
ReplyDeletep.s. my mom's side of the family lives on Skaneateles Lake - your photos remind me of how gorgeous it is!
Cecelia - Storing recipes was the biggest Pinterest draw for me. No surprise my photos remind you of Skaneateles... we're on the lake next door!
Deleteoh, that chicken looks good..have to check that out asap.
ReplyDeleteCaite - My daughter has already asked if we can have the chicken again this week.
DeleteYou have been busy cooking up a storm.
ReplyDeleteCarole - I was inspired this week...
DeleteWhat a great challenge, everything looks delicious. I'd love to try the tilapia, we're on a fish kick here!
ReplyDeleteCarol - I've been cooking a lot of fish lately, too. There's a new salmon recipe on the menu this week.
DeleteI am impressed you did all that :) I think the first recipe looks so good! I never would have thought to combine asparagus and cashews, but it looks great :)
ReplyDeleteLibby - The asparagus and cashews were an interesting combination, and very tasty!
DeleteIf I hadn't just eaten, I'd have been drooling over your food pictures.Nice pins!
ReplyDeleteHarvee - LOL, thanks.
DeleteLovely pictures. I'm totally addicted to pinterest - keep looking at prom dresses for my daughters, clothes, cakes and books! Daren't sign up or I'll be on there all the time.
ReplyDeleteVintage Reading - I avoided Pinterest for a long time, but so far it hasn't taken up as much time as I thought.
DeleteThey are all delicious looking meals! I need to get back to Pinterest and start looking for things to make from it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marg. Pinterest has been a lot of fun.
DeleteCongrats on pinning AND DOING it. That is something I still have to learn!
ReplyDeleteRikki - Thank you. So far, my family seem happy that I decided to give Pinterest a try.
DeleteGood looking stuff! I'm still at the timid pinner level, too, with three pins (all cooking-related!)
ReplyDeleteBeth- Thanks! I'll come by to see what you cooked. Will you be trying to reach the Pinteresed level?
DeleteJoAnn,
ReplyDeleteWow... these all look fabulous! But I'm still trying to figure out what Pinterest is all about. I know many of the photos on my blog got 'pinned' by others on Pinterest already, while I'm still in the dark wondering how they did that? Anyway, when you've time, inform me just a little about this new online activity and what you think of it. ;)
Arti - To my mind, Pinterest is a place online for all those things you would have previously ripped out of magazines and newspapers, or bookmarked on the internet. You can set up separate 'boards' for recipes, design inspirations, book to read, movies to watch, etc. There is a widget (app?) that allows you to pin from any website. I hesitated for months before joining because I already spend too much time on the computer, but I'm glad I joined Pinterest. It's like facebook in the sense that you 'follow' people and they follow you, but you don't have to check it every day or worry about updating... it's just there when you want it or feel inspired to 'pin'. You can look around their website without joining, but if you do want to join I'd be happy to send you an invite.
DeleteThanks, Jo Ann for your comment about my simple little chicken dish. Have a nice week.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carole.
DeleteNice! :) Looks delicious. I did a Pitnerest recipe but forgot to take a picture, LOL, so I may have to do it again.
ReplyDeleteMarie - I'll bet Trish wouldn't mind if you used the 'pinned photo :-)
DeleteCongrats! I signed up for the challenge, but haven't had a chance to try a single pin! With less than two weeks to go, I better get a move on.
ReplyDeleteLes - You still have plenty of time. Good luck!
DeleteI've was resisting creating more Pinterest boards because I didn't need another time sink, but it's becoming just too convenient to pin the pictures for future reference. I'm still resisting the challenges though!
ReplyDeleteLeslie - Surprisingly, Pinterst hasn't been as time consuming as I feared. Plus it's better than ripping all those recipes out of magazines :-)
DeleteLOL!!! I would say that so far your Pinterest dabbling has been quite a success! I'm going to check out the Parmesan crusted tilapia and definitely the pork medallions. I'm trying to convince Scott to do Operation Grill so I can take a bit of a break from the kitchen but we'll see. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh--and I have to laugh at your response to Leslie above. I'm still tearing out recipes from magazines. Just finished up my April Real Simple last night and tore out a few yummy looking desserts. Oops!
Trish - Pinterest has definitely been a success! I haven't torn out a recipe since I joined, but it's only been a couple of weeks. LOVE the idea of Operation Grill...hope Scott will go for it, too :-)
DeleteAll of these are looking so Yumm! I must try the 1st 2 definitely :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Veens! I'm still hoping to make that cake before the end of the month... and I've pinned a couple more recipes I really want to try, too.
DeleteEverything looks so delicious! I've wound up purchasing many "special" ingredients for recipes lately, and it hurts to buy them all at once at the check-out . . . but it's great when the dish turns out well and you know you'll make it again! :) And if I like whatever it is -- cardamom, in my case -- I start looking for other recipes calling for the same ingredient. Makes it interesting!
ReplyDeleteMeg - Thanks! Those special purchases can be annoying, but I've had good luck lately. I bought cardamom for a recipe last year and make it all the time now. It's for a WW pork tenderloin, now a favorite. Here's the post from my old Lakeside Kitchen blog if you're interested:
Deletehttp://lakesidekitchen.blogspot.com/2010/04/weekend-cooking-can-this-really-be.html
I have chives! Did you just not have any or don't like? Parsley, I am finding, is one of the EASIEST herbs to grow and it comes back every year if close to the house - at least for me but I prob live in a more mild clime than you. My husband won't touch tilapia - says it is boring and not worth the effort to jazz up.
ReplyDeleteCare - I didn't have any chives and couldn't face another trip to the store, lol! What I really need is a herb garden... maybe a holiday weekend project. I love tilapia, but my husband only eats in to humor me. It is boring, but there are a few recipes I love.
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