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Another month as rolled around and it is time for The Secret Recipe Club. This month I made a very moist coconut pound cake that was glazed with a very yummy glaze and sprinkled with coconut! The recipe came from Lynn's blog, Cafe Lynnylu. Lynn's cake was beautiful as are all of the recipes on her blog...Lynn is a photographer par-excellence as well as an avid cook...need I
I had never thought of making a cherry salsa but on my quest for cherry recipes, I found one that is credited to Mark Bittman and can be found in his cookbook, How to Cook Everything Vegetarian.The combination of smoky chipotles and sweet cherries intrigued me....and there were just enough left to give it a try. We weren't disappointed and we were ever so happy to have leftovers!! We s
Yes, there are more cherries. One would think that I would run out...and, sadly, I have just about exhausted the supply!We were going to a neighbor's house for their annual Crawfish Feed and since I had been wanting to make some Cherry Almond Bars but didn't want to be the only one eating them, I decided to bake them and take them across the street! They were really quite simple to mak
What makes a fool a fool? That is the question I asked when I saw the recipe...not when my husband and his friend were clowning around. After a little research I learned that this British dessert is one that is created when a sweetened fruit puree, most commonly made from strawberries, raspberries, or cherries, is gently mixed into whipped cream, resulting in a marbling effect.
Cherries and almond...the perfect marriage! With an abundance of cherries on hand, making something with cherries and almond was a must. Cherries and almond are made for one another...it is a wonderful flavor combination.During my cherry recipe search, I found this one from King Arthur Flour. I did make a slight change. Instead of 1/2 cup of milk I used 1/4 cup of milk &nbs
It is cherry season! They are in abundance! Our neighbor brought over a gallon bag of cherries the other day and the very next day, he and Mr. T. headed out to the orchard to pick some more. The farmer had already harvested and said that they could have what was left on the trees. There are a lot of trees out there....and it was a very warm day...they left with ladders, ice
We are skipping spring in the Valley and headed directly for summer. Yesterday with temperatures in the low 100s, a fruit smoothie seemed to be just the right thing. Timely, in that it is Secret Recipe Club time and I found a great watermelon smoothie recipe on Judee's Gluten Free A-Z Blog. It just so happened that I had a ziplock of watermelon chunks in my freezer! I know,
I put the lime in the coconut and ate it all up....Well, almost all up...with something this rich and tasty I shared with the neighbors!It is time once again for the Dessert Challenge hosted by Lady Behind the Curtain. It is a personal challenge. Participants are given two ingredients, such as lime and coconut, and must make something tasty!I had a hard time choosin
My daughter and son-in-law have a wonderful garden. I think they grow everything that can be grown in the Northwest! Not really, but close! They have beautiful raised beds as well as an area near their fence in which they cultivate berries, grapes, rhubarb, and artichokes, to name a few. They are even hosting two bee hives that were very active on the sunny days of my recen
Do you need some spicy herbed nuts to snack on this weekend? This just might be the snack for which you have been searching. It is "the" snack. I couldn't keep my hand away from the baking sheet, the cooling rack or the bowl! I was getting worried that they would disappear before we left for our get together... I envisioned me arriving at our destination with an empty
Mr. T went camping...too cold for me but he keeps telling me that he is tough. After listening to his description of the three days, I know that I made the right decision: stay home, work on genealogy and cook!A quiche is not on Mr. T's told ten when it comes to dinner but I do enjoy a nice slice of quiche for dinner or breakfast...or whenever. So, dinner for me, quiche! Th
Springtime just means "rhubarb" to me. It brings back memories of visiting my grandparents during my childhood. Grandma made the absolute best rhubarb pie! My mom makes a mean rhubarb pie, also, but there are stories attached to Grandma's that make me smile. I was the official "pie watcher". I was given the job of sitting on the porch swing and watching the pies, that were
When I was first asked to bring Benedictine to a gathering, my mind went to Benedictine and Brandy...okay, I can do that! Then, I received the recipe and did some reading about this delightful sandwich spread or dip and realized I wasn't in charge of a drink. Not being from the South, I had no idea that this was a sandwich spread that is popular in Louisville and often served on toast
When I bake I always share with the neighbors. It is always nice to share and since there are just the two of us, it is a very good thing to do. This time, however, they were gone before I could put some on a plate to walk next door. There are four reasons why they disappeared: 1) Mr. T. has a well developed sweet tooth, 2) Mr. T. loves peanut butter cookies, 3) Mr. T. espe
I am back to tackle another Dessert Challenge! I noticed that last month Mr. T. had no difficulty eating up all of the Sweet Almond Pastry so I am certain he will gobble up these moist and tasty cupcakes! The Dessert Challenge is hosted by Lady Behind the Curtain. It is a personal challenge and there is an option of playing along or taking a break...I like the fle
I am back from vacation and anxious to get into the kitchen. One can get really tired of the buffet table...even if it was only at breakfast and maybe a lunch or two. The food in both Turkey and Greece was different but it was delicious and I learned to eat a few new things. It was a great trip to Turkey and Greece and yes, I bought a cookbook or two along the way....We got home
Alison from Bit of Butter here with another guest post. (This will be my last post, since my mom is returning from her travels on Tuesday.) I wanted to share with you my new favorite dessert: it's quick, it's tasty, and it's a perfect way to use up those mandarin oranges languishing in your fruit basket!Mandarin Orange Olive Oil Cakeadapted from Melissa d'Arabian and The Food NetworkMa
Alison here, from Bit of Butter. My mom, Kathy, is out of the country for the next few weeks, so I'll be filling in with some yummy recipes that I've been making. Don't worry, Kathy will be back soon!Things have changed for my husband, Kevin, and I since we had our daughter last August. We used to have leisurely Saturday mornings filled with crosswords and coffee. We'd
It is spring....that time of year when we look outside and have no idea what we are going to wear...will it be sunny..will it rain...will there be snow flurries, will the wind blow...or will there be a little of each? Val at More Than Burnt Toast shared a quotation that just seems to fit..."It was one of the March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer i
1898We enjoyed this dessert when our gourmet group met the first of the month. I had forgotten my camera so the cell phone picture has to suffice....sorry. I had promised some friends that I would post the recipe for this delicious torte and am finally doing it!After reading you will ask, "What is Mauf Cream?" Good question. I think it is a type of whipping cream...I tried
I am trying something new this month....I am participating in a dessert challenge. I am not certain who is going to eat the sweets but I am certain that I will find somebody who is willing...Mr. T? Are you ready? The Dessert Challenge is hosted by Lady Behind the Curtain. It is a personal challenge and I have the option of playing along or taking a break...I like the flexibility.
Last year I discovered the sweet flavor that the yeast and hops in an Irish stout contribute to baking. I have used beer many times in marinades and for flavoring hearty stews, but baking, as is pointed out by Margaret Johnson the author of The Irish Spirit, isn't usually on the radar.We usually associate Guinness and chocolate this time of year...but when I was perusing Margaret's coo
Yippee! I found a wonderful cheesy bread to make..and I did make it....and it was super....the crust was...well, crusty and the crumb was soft and cheesy and springy and....just plain delicious!! I have been using the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day cookbook for a long time, but I have never made it to the middle and that is where this recipe is tucked away! Of course, I didn't fin
Every once in a while we need an appetizer that is special. One that will rock your taste buds! When I first saw this recipe on Mary's blog, Home is Where the Boat Is, I knew that it had the potential to do just that. We love to go crabbing...Mr. T doesn't necessarily love cleaning it...but he does it...we love to eat it....so, it is only fitting that he should be able to enjoy somethi
When I was searching for a dessert to accompany our Mardi Gras menu, I was immediately drawn to the Bread Pudding Soufflé with Whiskey Sauce recipe that I found in Lee Bailey's New Orleans Good Food and Glorious Houses. He teamed up with Ella Brennan and created numerous menus with elegant foods set in fabulous New Orleans homes....what a tour....and what a dessert....intriguing...bread pudd
This elegant winter salad was a wonderful light first course at our gourmet group's dinner. It was a perfect start before our heartier winter entreé, Shrimp Creole. The dressing is lightened with roasted and puréed apple and onion and then finished with a reduction of balsamic vinegar...delicious!The recipe comes from another New Orleans cookbook that I picked up along the way...
Breakfast at Brennan's and Dinner, Too by Pip, Jimmy and Ted Brennan, Proprietors, was so much fun to read that I had to stop along the way and make a few things....Shrimp Creole appealed as it is February and even though it is just past Mardi Gras, I added it to our February Gourmet Menu. I was certainly NOT disappointed...this was an absolutely delicious recipe with the perfect amount of "
When I was working and had to travel, I always picked up a cookbook specific to the area I had visited. On a few occasions, I traveled to New Orleans...so, since it was February, Mardi Gra time and I was preparing the menu for out gourmet group....I pulled out Breakfast at Brennan's and Dinner, Too by Pip, Jimmy and Ted Brennan, Proprietors. While we always have appetizers to accom
My very first blog post in 2009 was about this bread. I had just gotten the cookbook, Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Hertzberg and Francois. It wasn't a wonderful post...and the picture left a lot to be desired! As I recall, my daughter and SIL had just moved to Seattle and I went up for a visit....since we enjoy cooking together, this was going to be our "fun thing to do
I am revisiting two desserts that are perfect for Valentine's Day...just the right amount of chocolate and flair! Both were delicious!!Two-Bite Chocolate Cream PiesSunset Magazine, February 2010Yield: Makes 24Cooking-oil sprayAbout 30 chocolate cookies, such as Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers3/4 cup sugar, divided1/2 teaspoon coarse salt2 large eggs (1 separated)1/2 cup chopped bittersw
What makes a cake Armenian? Good question. You can imagine my surprise when I excitedly told my neighbor that I was making an Armenian Nutmeg Cake and she responded with, "I don't think there is such a cake." My neighbor who is an Armenian cook par excellence checked all of her cookbooks for me...there was no mention of a Nutmeg Cake. I researched Armenian cooking to see which sp
I hesitated to pull the pork tenderloin from the freezer as I knew it would be cold outside for grilling. Mr. T didn't see it as a problem so, pork tenderloin for dinner! Paging through Pacific Fresh by Maryana Vollstedt I found a recipe that I had marked as great and very flavorful and since I had everything readily available, Mexican Pork Tenderloin was what I prepared. The recipe ca
I love carrots. That pretty much says it. I have loved them since I was a child. My uncle used to tell me that eating carrots would turn my eyes blue...and, didn't I want to have eyes the same color as his? Of course I did, he was my very favorite uncle and I would eat carrots forever to have blue eyes like his. That was many years ago....and I smile remembering Uncle
In October I had an opportunity to spend four days in Prague. It was a girl trip as our husbands didn't wish to go. They missed out on this one...it was an amazing and wonderful experience. We must have walked a hundred miles and I doubt that we missed seeing anything! We had some wonderful food and aromatic hot wine to keep us going.While it isn't Hungary, the cuisine in t
I have had this recipe marked in the cookbook for ages...guess I hadn't marked it in an obvious way as I just ran across it again and this time there were mushrooms and champagne in the frig and chicken in the freezer! The recipe comes from a great little cookbook that my sister-in-law gave me a number of years ago. I have used it well...the pages are starting to pop loose from the bin
I downloaded a couple of cookbooks onto my Nook. I am trying to decide if electronic cookbooks will work for me... One was the Joy the Baker Cookbook. As I "brushed" through the pages, I noticed a recipe for this wonderful fluffy and light buttermilk biscuits...with cheese, jalapeño and chives. What could be more enticing than that!!Jalapeño in biscuits? ....hmmmmm...
I have been in Seattle the last week visiting my four month old granddaughter. The cold weather has had all of us craving comfort food. My daughter suggested a pot roast and we wanted something a little different, so it became Hungarian Pot Roast!There are many kinds of paprika and for me, getting them all straight in my mind has been a challenge. Basically, if a recipe calls for
If you have never tried heirloom beans, put it on your list! My daughter made the discovery and bean dishes haven't tasted the same since! The beans pictured above are Rancho Gordo Vaquero Heirloom Beans. There are numerous varieties of heirloom beans and they all have a great flavor and texture.I used the Vaquero beans in this delicious Black Bean Soup with Chipotle Chiles. &nbs
The very first soup that I made from scratch was Minestrone. It was unusually cold and foggy, the wood stove was radiating a wonderful warmth and I was in the kitchen paging through a cookbook that my sister-in-law had given me. I was looking for something that would warm us up! When I saw the Minestrone soup recipe I decided that it looked like something I could make....it was a
Traveling in December seems to leave one racing to get things done. I got myself behind...in part because I was gone for a week enjoying my granddaughter's smile and because my sewing machine decided to stop. It was a major stop, a new circuit board which meant that all projects came to a halt. Thankfully, I was given a loaner and was back on the road again...but in the fast lane
The holidays and peppermint go hand in hand for me. I can remember, as a child, that I could hardly wait for the candy canes to be available in the stores. So, yes, I am a long-time fan of anything with peppermint...can you imagine my excitement when a local ice creamery made peppermint ice cream, only to be made and sold during the holidays!? Well, here is another item that is only av
Continuing with the baking...sugar cookies are delicious any time of year but I believe that they are the best at Christmas time. Sitting by the fire and reading, while enjoying a cup of tea and a sugar cookie or two makes for a perfect afternoon or evening! I hope you have time to bake for the holidays and to enjoy a few quiet moments...Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies3 cups all-purpose flour1 t
It is time for the cookie baking to begin! It is a love hate activity. I love planning, baking, decorating and sampling after that I hate having them around the house....it is hard to muster up the self control....they are so tempting. The answer is to box them up and share with others. So, the next thing I love to do is share! I enjoy packaging them and delivering...First
I flew to Seattle yesterday to visit my daughter, son-in-law and four month old granddaughter. It was a cold, gray and rainy day. The perfect weather for soup. My daughter had a very large butternut squash on the counter and some tasty unfiltered apple cider so we revised a previous recipe and had a yummy dinner with crusty bread and slices of Dutch sheep's milk gouda
When I saw these on a Debby's blog, A Feast for the Eyes, I knew that they would be making an appearance at my house...and what a great idea! They are delicious. I have always liked stuffed peppers but had only stuffed bell peppers. I have been missing out! I had some leftover chicken and only had to cook a little rice, chop a little tomato, onion and cilantro and grate some chee
Ahhhh....turkey leftovers. Are there any leftovers that are better? I don't think so. We prepare two turkeys at Thanksgiving. Why? We enjoy leftovers...turkey sandwiches especially. We enjoy sending home turkey with our guests so that they can enjoy a sandwich or two also.Mr. T. always prepares one turkey on the barbecue. This year, he put the turkey on th
As I mentioned earlier I have a tendency to mess with the basic Thanksgiving menu through the cranberry! I usually have two or three choices on the menu. This year I tried a new simple recipe and I am bringing back a chutney that I haven't made in a long time.I have always loved chutneys and I like this one because it is not extreme in its flavors. It is a perfect balance of swee
I have strict orders not to mess with the Thanksgiving menu. A basic traditional menu is what is appreciated at our house. You know the basics: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce... I always make the basic menu but I wouldn't be me if I didn't throw in a few new side dishes along the way.Nobody ever seems to mind if I "mess" with the cranberry sauce...su
It is Secret Recipe Club time! You remember, it's where participating bloggers are assigned a blog with the challenge of identifying a recipe, preparing it and then posting on a designated day. I was really excited to be assigned Lavender and Lime! Tandy says that she "loves to read about food, cook food and of course, eat food!" That is quite evident when on
This month's cooking challenge was a real challenge...not because it was difficult but because I have been out of the country for almost three weeks. I have gotten used to having my "every meal" prepared for me. I have gotten used to choices at each meal, my bed being made and when I returned to reality last Wednesday I expected the pampering to continue....instead, I spent 24 ho
