Posts from — March 2011

As promised, here is the fantastic recipe for a traditional Irish Soda Bread, given to me from Sharon Cereska. The recipe writer in me couldn’t help but rewrite it a little bit, but I only changed one actual ingredient from the original recipe, and that was using unsalted butter instead of margarine. I don’t use or buy margarine, sorry, can’t help being a foodie snob about that one!

My reworded recipe is first and Sharon’s original family recipe is below. But first, here is what Sharon wrote to me when she sent the recipe, accompanied by a lovely treasured family photo of hers.  Thank you Sharon for sharing with me and everyone out there in the blog-a-sphere.

[Read more →]

What are you looking for; Gluten-free? Easy-breezy? Meatless Monday? Kid-friendly? Convenient? Meat-free Friday Lenten meal? Then this recipe is for you! But before we get to it, I want to provide you with a head’s up about tomorrow’s recipe. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day – the most amazing Irish Soda Bread recipe. It comes directly from the source, a true Irishwoman who also happens to be a great friend of this blog. None other than, Sharon Cereska; loyal follower, mother to long-time students of Les Petites Gourmettes, and one of the two winners of our latest contest. Sharon generously brought me a loaf of the delicious bread as a thank you when she came to my cooking class at Les Gourmettes (the prize of the said contest). Marissa and I devoured the entire loaf before Dave even knew it was in the house! Besides the usual flour and such, you’ll need 1 egg and 1 3/4 cups buttermilk. Get to the store and pick those up so you can make the bread. Trust me, you’ll be thanking me, and especially, Sharon, later!

[Read more →]

This lovely spring or summertime tart is perfect as an appetizer, placed atop lightly dressed greens for a salad, or as a side dish for fish, poultry, pork, or beef. Basically, it’s good anytime and anywhere! I created it while trying to use up things I had in my fridge (what’s new?) including the zucchini, caramelized onions, and blue cheese.  I always have Parmesan and puff pastry on hand, so this was a no-brainer. Feel free to add in whatever you have on hand as well; such as sun-dried tomatoes, capers, olives, or tapenade… the possibilities are endless. If you’re not the huge fan of blue cheese, that I am, substitute in another good melting cheese… say Fontina, or just use more Parmesan. Just get in that kitchen and create!

[Read more →]

I’ve posted the recipes for regular chicken stock and for rich duck stock here before, but I just realized that I’ve not put up recipes for beef stock or brown chicken stock yet.  This recipe is for brown chicken stock, but the recipe for the beef stock is exactly the same, just sub in beef bones for the chicken pieces. Having these two stocks in your freezer, ready when you need them, will make you feel very rich indeed, as there is nothing better than homemade stock!  I’m including nearly a dozen pictures to make it as easy as possible to follow along.

[Read more →]

I’ve been either on the go or sick for weeks now without a break!  But today – today there is not a single thing written on my calendar – a FREE day!  A lazy day – a perfect Friday! So keeping with the feel of the day, this will be a lazy and easy post.

Marissa is home this morning, not having to go to work until 5:00 tonight.  I’ve been up since 7:00 AM, she got up at 9:00 when I woke her up (accidentally) to look at something online.  An hour later she said, “I want pancakes.”  Oooh, pancakes, that sounds good. So we made “Pancakes ala Marissa”, which means the mix was from a box, but there are always awesome mix-ins.  This time, the embellishments are toasted pecans and slices of ripe banana… yummers!  Then I added a little special touch of my own, cooking them in a mixture of butter AND Queen Creek Olive Mill Vanilla Bean Olive Oil – so good!

Another great thing about this particular Friday; Connor comes home for the week of Spring Break! He’ll be jealous about these pancakes, but luckily for him, there is some batter waiting for him in the fridge…

[Read more →]

There are few desserts more elegant and beautiful than a perfect poached pear. I remember, way back when, I was intimidated at the thought of making poached pears at home. But after that first attempt (honestly, some 20+ years ago), I couldn’t believe how easy and simple it was.  If you are still in awe and a bit afraid yourself, give this recipe a try, you too will be amazed at the ease and beauty of this lovely fruit presentation.

[Read more →]

Unfortunately, no time to post a recipe today. I’ll be on Valley Dish today at 3:30… not cooking this time, but instead showing how to set up a Mardi Gras tablescape. Tune in if you get a chance.

[Read more →]

OK, I found the most wonderful thing while surfing through food blogs yesterday. Hey, don’t judge – I was specifically instructed, by my doctor, to stay in bed all weekend. Which, of course, I did not do, but a little surfing is kinda like staying in bed.

So why the bed rest? As you know I was up in Flagstaff two weekends ago taking care of my sick boy. A word to the wise – if you spend 60+ hours cooped up in a hotel room with a really sick person, you will probably get sick! I honestly didn’t think it would happen, I’ve taken care of my sick children for the past 23 years and never have gotten sick myself. But taking care of your sick kid while living in a big house and taking care of your sick kid in a small hotel room – completely different!

I came home with a sore throat. That developed into bronchitis (mild- thankfully) and a wicked ear infection, laryngitis, and possibly pneumonia.

When it comes to pneumonia, I’m still hoping that I don’t have it. I am still waiting for the x-ray results. One lung looked cloudy, but I really don’t believe I have pneumonia because I have had it twice before in my life, and I know that pain. I do not have that sort of pain now.

Wowser, that was a lot of excuse-making and explaining why I was wasting time surfing the web! Point is, it wasn’t a waste at all, I found something I just adore. Check this out!!!

Isn’t that the greatest thing ever? What would you think if I did something like that? I know it would be totally stealing someone’s fabulous idea, but I just love it too much to let it go. There is a downside, my least favorite part of doing this blog is the photos. Taking them, correcting them (and they always need help!) in Photoshop, and then downloading them into the posts. But maybe if it was something as creative and wonderful as that… let me know what you think! The other thing I am really loving is this…

[Read more →]

Today we come to the end of our “Cook Once – Eat All Week” use of the Prime Rib.  I call this salad “bicicleta” because the way you arrange it on a platter is made to resemble the spokes of a bicycle wheel.  It’s a pretty salad when it’s laid out that way and even after it’s tossed, so bright and colorful.

[Read more →]

Here is meal #3 from our original prime rib of three days ago. You may not know this, but I am a French Dip aficionado, I know my French Dips, and this is a keeper, trust me!

Use a very sharp knife to slice the beef as thinly as possible.  Since the meat is cold from being refrigerated for the last couple of days, it’s not as hard as you may think.

The little “dips” pictured here are a bit smaller than usual because I made them appetizer size for a little happy hour birthday celebration for my BFF, Peggy.   Make these and thank me later!

[Read more →]