Posts from — January 2012

Do you ever dream of a new kitchen? I do! Even though I have a very nice kitchen and one that has even been envied by others… the thought of a new kitchen makes me just sigh with delight.

For me, the kitchen should be at the heart of every home. It’s the room where you share your stories of the day with the rest of your family. It’s the room where you listen to your children complaining over something that they’re not happy about, as well as the room where you lend them a shoulder to cry on. But it’s also the place where you can entertain.

Luckily, there is a new website to peruse and drool over.

Cultivate.com is Williams-Sonoma’s first-ever design website focused solely on kitchen design and remodeling. Cultivate is packed full of editorial content, loads of inspiration, plenty of tips, and fabulous advice all about kitchens.

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OK, I give in. Since a couple more people played and a few of you sent me emails – I concede. Here are the answers for the second edition of “What the Heck is That?!?”  And very impressively, this time we had one person get all three items correct. Kudos to my super smart (and super sweet!) friend, Kim!

Object #1

This is a manche à gigot, otherwise known as a leg of lamb holder clamp. Gigot is the French word for a leg of lamb or mutton and manche means handle. So this tool is used when slicing the leg of lamb. It is attached to the shank and then tightened to provide a clean grip for the carver.

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I know I said that today I would post the pictures and answers from yesterday’s game, “What the Heck is That?!?”. I’m going to hold off for a day or two. Maybe by then more of you will play the game. (see the image above of a very sad face). To be fair, I have sent the answers to Dagmar, the only participant besides Marissa. Thanks for playing, Dagmar! (happy face!)

So, what to do today… how about I show you my plans for Saturday? A dress rehearsal of sorts. This Saturday I am delivering on an auction donation I made for a very worthy cause. The donation was this.

The winners of the item chose to have the dinner at my house, so I’ve been busy for the last several days trying to find and round up all my “clambake” “beachy” stuff. Turns out I have a whole bunch of it, even though I live in the dry arid desert. Here is what I was able to find in my cupboards, garage, storage sheds, etc.

I know it’s hard to tell what is what in this photo, so how about some closeups? (not as closeup as the photos in the game that I’d love for you to play), but just closeup enough to explain what things are and what I’ve done with it all.

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It’s time to play “What the Heck is That?!?”   Here is a refresher of how it works – I post three closeup photos of items found in my kitchen. You leave a comment telling me what you think one, two, or all three of the items are.  And remember, a wrong guess is immensely more fun for everyone than no guess at all!

As with Round 1, there is one small restriction. Marissa, you may not post your guess or guesses until after 6 PM (Pacific Time). I am fearful of your knowledge of my kitchen. Connor, you can play whenever you want, I have no fear of your observation of my kitchen, nor do I believe you will even see this – until weeks from now… if ever.  Sigh…

I will post the answers and full photos of the 3 items tomorrow. Let the game begin!

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You’ve had your tart, and your panini, so now it is time for a big helping of roasted veggie lasagna.

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Not much to say here, except these are pretty fabulous sandwiches!

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We’re going to use the first portion of the roasted vegetables from yesterday’s post in this recipe. You will need to estimate and set aside 1/4 of the yield from each vegetable, keeping them separated. Then make a tart crust (or you could just use 1 sheet of puff pastry).  I link you to a tart dough recipe here on the blog. You’ll only need half of it, but go ahead and make the full amount. You will love this tart and you’ll want to make it again, I promise! So make the full amount and freeze the other half of the dough and it’ll be even easier to make the next time.

I served the tart at a dinner party atop baby greens that were lightly coated with this vinaigrette,  but straight up is great too.

P.S. I’m just sorry that I served it on this bright peppermint stripe platter (hey, it was still the Christmas season) because it totally distracts from how bright and colorful the tart is. Go back up and see the top photo for proof of that!

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Today, we’re going to roast some vegetables and then use them for three different meals for healthy, meatless… and most importantly, delightful dishes. This one batch of roasted veggies will yield enough to make a Roasted Vegetable-Goat Cheese Tart, Veggie Lasagna, and Roasted Vegetable-Mozzarella Panini Sandwiches.  Be certain to keep all the vegetables separate when you refrigerate them, you will need it that one for at least one of the recipes.  You can store them all in the same container, just do mix them up with one another.

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I found the perfect match for the lovely pink Grate Roots Cranberry horseradish… lovely pink salmon! In case you’re a day behind and missed yesterday’s post, I found this unique horseradish (along with citrus flavor) at the Downtown Phoenix Market.  Get yourself down there this Saturday and get yourself some!

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Remember when I was working the bake sale at the Downtown Phoenix Market last month? Well, not only was I a super salesperson that day, but I was also a pretty good shopper. The thing that I discovered and am now addicted to are these two horseradishes. Oh, My – they are SO good!  I’ve been throwing a few tablespoons of one or the other into everything… such as these potatoes – which are stellar. Get yourself down to the Market on Saturday and tell the people at the Grate Roots booth that I sent you.  Not that the mention of my name will mean anything to them… they don’t know me from Adam… but maybe if enough of you say, “Linda Hopkins of Les Petites Gourmettes sent me,” they will be so grateful for all the business that they will give ME some free bottles!  Now, you want to do that for me, don’t you?

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