Category — Recipes

Today is the first installment of my Twelve Days of Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen.

For the next five weeks I’ll be posting gift ideas for you to make for your friends and family.

The First Day of Christmas Gift is a byproduct of any recipe calling for peeled tomatoes. It is made from tomato skins, which would otherwise be tossed away.

Tomato dust or powder is so simple to make that a recipe isn’t really needed. Plus it’s a fun little thing to have around the kitchen.

I first tried to grind the dried peels in a food processor, but that did not get them into the fine dust I wanted. A spice grinder was the perfect fit.

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The tomato tart recipe I am about to give you is probably different than the tomato tarts you are used to. Generally a tomato tart looks something like this.

It makes for a light refreshing summertime meal.

The tart recipe I’m about to give you is for the fall and winter. Hearty and immensely flavorful! It may seem like a bit of work, but the steps are leisurely and all steps can be done ahead and then assembled just before you’re ready to serve.

It makes two 8-inch square or 8-inch round tarts. Alternately, you may make individual tarts, as pictured below. The dough will make about 10  individual tarts and you may have a bit of filling left over. The oven temperature and baking times remain the same, no matter the size.

As an added bonus, tomorrow I’ll be giving you a “recipe” using the tomato peels. It will be my first installment of “The 12 Gifts of Christmas” – so do not throw out those peels!

Also, I will apologize in advance for the photos – I was having some camera issues and didn’t know it until I loaded the pictures onto the computer.

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When you read all the recipes on here, do you ever think to yourself, “I wonder if Linda ever makes something that tastes just horrible? Or if she tries a recipe that just doesn’t turn out?”

Um… Yeah! Of course, it happens!

Let’s say I create a dish and it just isn’t all that. Well, guess what? We eat it but it doesn’t show up here.

Or if I see something on the web, let’s say on Pinterest, and I think, “Oh that looks So Good! I’m going to give that a try and post it for my readers.”

The same thing, if it’s good, I share.  If it’s not, I don’t. Well, that’s about to change…

Let me share with you a little story about yesterday’s epic fail:

I’ve been planning on doing a series of recipes called “The 12 Gifts of Christmas” – you know, food gifts from your kitchen. There was this particular recipe I saw on Pinterest and it appeared to be the perfect fit.

Here is the LINK to make Maple Cream, also known as Maple Butter. Go check it out and then come back here.

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It’s rather late in the day for me to be posting, but it’s not too late to remind you as if you need it if you’re hosting, that Thanksgiving is next week!

I know! Wasn’t it just last week Halloween?!?  It’s early this year, so don’t let it sneak up on you.

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After working for two solid days on the “Treasure Party” – aka our neighborhood yard sale, I am beat! Dead tired! I didn’t get out of my PJ’s all day on Sunday. In fact, as I type this post, it is 7:30 on Sunday night and I am back in bed.

I went to sleep at 8:30 on Saturday night (the sale day) and didn’t wake up until 8:30 on Sunday morning. Twelve hours was still not enough sleep and I had to take a nap on Sunday afternoon. I never nap. Naps are for wimps. So, yes, I admit, much to my dismay, I am now officially a wimp.

We set up all the treasures on more than 3 dozen large (8-ft, 6 ft, and 60-inch round) heavy folding tables. We initially had to squeeze all those tables under the back patio and in the garages (because of rain) and then I got up before the crack of dawn and we moved them all into the yard and spread them out on the open patio for the sale.

Then there was the 4-hour sale itself. At times there were lines of people at the checkout and other times it was just the neighbors hanging out and chatting it up.

Next, it was time to clean it all up and break down the more than 3 dozen tables. Then Connor and I hoisted all the tables that were left at our house into the back of a truck and hauled them around the neighborhood to return them to their rightful owners. Finally, I put my yard back together – moving all the furniture that had been pushed to one end of the patio, to make room for everything else, back to their correct spots. By the late afternoon, I was feeling like a wrung-out dirty dishrag.

That is a lot of physical labor and a lot of hard work!

Aside from all that, the sale was really fun and we did pretty darn well. The remaining items are shoved and smashed into the third stall of our garage awaiting the Salvation Army pick up later this week.

After eating take-out for the three or four days leading up to the sale, I thought I’d better at least make an attempt at dinner for my guys on Sunday night. Thankfully, Connor agreed to go to the grocery store and pick up the two ingredients I needed to make this crock-pot dish, the epitome of an “easy breezy” meal.

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These bacon and olive-based appetizers aren’t the prettiest plate on the table but with their hint of curry, they are sure to be the most popular!

Many thanks to Barbara Fenzl, who demonstrated this recipe in her classes last month at Les Gourmettes. She agreed to let me share them with you.

Bonus  –  They are so Easy-Breezy!

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This is the tasty creation that I served at the Burlap Pumpkin Making class this past Saturday morning. We went through two double batches!

FYI: I purchased the cute numbered (1 -12) cocktail classes on One Kings Lane.

Many thanks to Tram and Sheila for the two photos!

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If you go on Pinterest or you read any food or style magazines, then you already know that pumpkins are all the rage! But there is more to autumn than just the glorious pumpkin. Pears and apples shouldn’t be overlooked in fall decorating or cooking.

This quintessential autumn dessert proves that point perfectly.

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I’m sorry it took so long for me to get this soup posted. It makes great use of the delicious broth that was produced by making John Ash’s fantastic Ginger Chicken.

As much as I love soup, and you know I do, the real payoff from making that chicken was John’s outstanding sandwiches.

Hopefully you’ll find time to make all three recipes.  The white meat I have leftover (after making the sandwiches and this soup) will be used to make THESE enchiladas.

Three great meals from 2 chickens, now that’s a good deal!

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This is the recipe for Chef John Ash’s favorite chicken sandwich. After you have it, you’ll understand why. It uses the poached chicken from yesterday’s post. I used about half of the shredded breast meat from that recipe. So basically the breast meat from one chicken to make 16 slider sandwiches.

I find the pretzel bread sliders at Costco. These things are addicting! If they ever stop carrying them….   I. Will. Be. Devastated. Honestly!

Chef Ash also suggests creating elegant hors d’oeurves by omitting the buns altogether and serving the remaining sandwich components on crackers or toasted baguette slices. Brilliant!

Although the sandwiches come together quickly, you do need to make the caramelized onion jam ahead of time and plan accordingly.  Chef Ash says that the jam is also fabulous with grilled lamb or on a toasted blue cheese sandwich. Just the thought of that makes my mouth water!

The jam also makes the perfect gift. It may be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or maybe canned using the water bath method.  Go HERE (scroll down about 2/3 of the way and follow the directions under the headings “canned pickles” and “processing”) if you want to make a huge batch, can it, and bestow it as a gift it to your favorite people. Be sure to include a couple of recipe cards for the poached chicken and this sandwich,  your friends will love you forever. I Promise!

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