The Selfish Cookbook

As many of you know, I'm a compulsive Food Network viewer. Nothing is more relaxing to me than my favorite hour of Food Network, the back-to-back showing of Giada at Home and The Barefoot Contessa. But as many of you also know... I don't really cook. Sure, I'll make the occasional treat or meatloaf (idea: treatloaf!!), but at the end of the day I'm more of an eggs and toast kind of girl. Specifically, fried eggs. At the end of every day. Because we have an incredible skillet/ spatula combo, and it takes a long time for eggs and bread to go bad.

(Now you might be thinking- isn't that a waste of knowledge? You've learned the proper way to clean mushrooms, slice an avocado, and level a layer cake, but you never put these skills to use? Well, yes, it is sad. It just seems to be my fate. See: Major, English. Four years spent studying topics like "Divorce in Victorian Literature" and a three month course exclusively on the works of Faulkner, but the only visible skill I use in my day to day is my mean Word formatting ability. Anyway, it doesn't bother me. I'm just biding my time. Just wait until I write a critical essay on the evolution of food in the 20th century novel. JUST WAIT.) 

Um right, where was I? Oh yes, The Selfish Cookbook. Having me over for the holidays? Here are some things I would love to make myself, but probably won't, but would still like to try, so have at them!

The Main Course:

Pizza Buns (recipe and image from The Other Side of 50)

Mm, festive! I mean if you sprinkled some basil it would practically be Christmas in your mouth.

The Dessert:

Ina's Rugelach (recipe and image from foodnetwork.com)

My love for rugelach dates back to when my mom and I used to buy it in the grocery store. And if I don't get around to consuming it fresh-baked this season, that's exactly what I'll do. Note: please ditch the suggested filling and go for something much more pleasing to my palate, like a berry jam and mini chocolate chips.  

The Cocktail:

The Snowshoe (recipe and image from Sloshed!)

This drink is simply bourbon and peppermint schnapps over crushed ice. I don't know about you but I am very intrigued.

The Vegetable (which I'm hiding at the end because I can't imagine my friends ever making this and yet I wantitsobadly):

Creamed Spinach (recipe from Smitten Kitchen)

Ok, so I can't post an image because her work is copywright and one thing I definitely retained from my days as an English Major is a hearty fear of plagiarism. However, this looks so delicious and at the end there is a FRIED EGG involved. And by now you know how I feel about fried eggs.

So... when's dinner?