How To Tuesday: Make Yourself into a Culinary Goddess

And no, I don't mean a "goddess" of Sheen fame. I mean, many people think that in order to make an impressive meal, you need to cook well. And. You don't.

Sometimes you can whip together things that are actually quite good, but don't take a lot of effort (unlike Stie's cake balls--but they look awesome stie!).

Although I DO like to cook, and I make part of my living showing people HOW to cook, I still am amazed at times how easy it is to fake something REALLY REALLY good.

Just don't over think it.

The other day I made Grilled Chicken and Roasted Red Pepper Paninis by the Pioneer Woman. Now, if you REALLY want to teach yourself to cook well, starting with a site like hers is a great idea, because there is always a great picture by picture, step by step tutorial. What I was amazed by was the spread that she put on those paninis.

It consisted of just a few ingredients. Yes, those sun dried tomatoes had been in my fridge for who knows HOW long... Guess what, they were fine, and they didn't kill anyone. Yes the pesto is pre-prepared. . . So. EASY.
Stick those ingredients in a manual food processor (new product from Pampered Chef!), mini processor, a big food processor, and if you don't have any of those, resort to your blender. You will be just fine. . . Juuuuuuuust fine.

I didn't have time to marinate my chicken breasts, so, I cut up some baked chicken from dinner the night before, and threw my "marinade" in for an hour. It was a win-win. Chicken already cooked. . . marinade made it yummy. #winning.


I even had some left over to spread on the said paninis and to spread it all over a regular turkey sandwich or what ever else I wanted. . . my thighs maybe? I wouldn't have cared. It was SO. GOOD.


You can even go so far as to roast your bell peppers just like the Pioneer Woman does. She gives a great tutorial, but, if you don't have a gas burner, do what I did and burn the heck out of your peppers under your broiler.

And guess what, I even burned my paninis JUST like the Pioneer Woman, and they were STILL GOOD.

Oh, one other thing. You want to REALLY feel like a culinary goddess? Make your own Panini bread by making the EASIEST Artisan bread EVER. And it is practically no fail.

You can see the concept video here.

Or if you are more of a step by step girl, go here.

My point is. You want to feel like a culinary goddess? Start with this no-fail recipe. It has amazing flavor, and when you are eating it, you will think you are at a fancy cafe where you just paid $10 for your fancy panini. . . . give it a try.