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What do you do when you are stuck in between seasons and you have a craving for fresh garden vegetables after a long cold winter? Try making this salad to satisfy the palate and tummy with a terrific 'tweener of a recipe. The vegetables called for in this dish can be found year 'round with quality taste. Those sweet little cherub tomatoes are my go-to when the garden i
I had a craving for a deep tomato flavor, but since tomatoes still aren't at their vine-ripened peak, I thought I would pull out this recipe from the repertoire to use for a weeknight meal. Simple, quality ingredients, easy to prepare, a variety of applications and tons of flavor? Now that's a recipe that I like. This is an excellent sauce to have on hand to toss with pasta f
Crunchy Grits-Fried Pickles with Ranch Dressing Hickory Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwiches Western Carolina Barbecue Sauce South Carolina Mustard Sauce Stove-Top Baked Beans Classic Creamy Coleslaw Chocolate Hazelnut Cake This Sunday is a belated birthday dinner menu. My husband celebrated a birthday this past week, so it was his turn to choose the m
I took the day off this past Sunday from blogging our dinner menu in order to spend a wonderful Mother's day with my family, but I didn't take the day off from cooking. It was a delicious dinner that ended with this dessert that conjured up memories of my childhood and my own mother. One of mom's desserts that was always well received consisted of a bowl of fresh summer strawberrie
A hearty, delicious, one pan dinner is a gift from on high. OK, maybe this skillet lasagna wasn't sent directly from the heavens, but on a busy weeknight, it kind of feels like it was. Sorry. I've just heard "Mom...where are my (fill in the blank) and don't forget to get (fill in the blank again)" one too many times already this week. You have lots of food groups and
Time for brunchalicious recipe number two. This time it's on the sweet side of the menu. This raspberry buttermilk coffee cake has everything you could want in a brunch treat. It is a light and tender coffee cake, making it the perfect sweet companion for hearty, savory dishes. The slightly crunchy top of the cake gives way to a tender interior containing just the
Mother's Day is well known as a day to take Mom out to brunch. That's nice and all, but I personally would rather eschew the lines, waiting and hubbub of a restaurant on Mother's Day morning for the (relative) calm and comfort of my home. I get the time with my kids and some help to make things like these nifty little egg and ham cups. When making the cups, I like to f
Shrimp and Avocado Fritters with a Chipotle Dipping Sauce Pork Carnitas Mexican Red Rice Refried Beans Corn and Flour Tortillas Pico de Gallo Tomatillo and Poblano Guacamole Shredded Cabbage Cilantro and Onion Crema Frozen Strawberry Margarita Pie With a menu like the one we'll be enjoying today, a light and fruity dessert seemed like just the right
How can margaritas get any better? Well, how about letting ice cream in on the party? Like the Margarita Cream Cake, this frozen concoction has all the flavors of the classic cocktail in the form of a spoon-ready dessert. But don't worry, the alcohol in this recipe is reduced and cooked out, so it is kid-friendly and safe for those who would rather not imbibe. The orig
After sharing with you a meal fit for a Cinco de Mayo celebration, I thought I would share a few more recipes from the archives to round out your fiesta. From appetizers and snacks like guacamoles and salsas to main events like chicken tortilla soup (a hearty warm bowl for those of you who experienced a snow storm yesterday!?!) and chilaques, I think there is a little something for everyone.
El Cinco de Mayo has undeniably become a part of the American cycle of holiday celebrations. What is probably the second most important patriotic holiday in Mexico (Sept. 16 claims top billing I'm told) has claimed a spot at the table. This is thanks in no small part to Corona beer ads, but there are other reasons. May 5th falls right around Kentucky Derby day every year. &
Radish Butter on Crostini Grilled Lemon-Herb Cornish Game Hens Grilled Asparagus, Fingerling Potaotes, and Shallots Mustard and Herb Vinaigrette Raspberry Custard Tart This was not the Sunday dinner menu that I had planned for today, but the weather took a pleasant turn, making it perfect weather for pulling out the grill. Since I decided to chang
Spring... Garden... Strawberry... Salad... I only wish my garden was bursting with this bounty right now. Fortunately, the markets I visit have all the ingredients on hand. And who can say no to a little bacon and blue cheese?? Like many salad recipes, this one is a guide. Feel free to adjust/add/take-out according to your own taste. With the vinaigr
If you are a long time reader, you might recall the Strawberry Dream Cake that I shared almost two years ago. Well, this cake here is its kissin' cousin. Where the dream cake uses frozen strawberries and tastes like homemade strawberry ice cream in cake form, this cake uses fresh berries and has all the flavors of strawberry shortcake. Having said that, make sure you use th
Deviled Vidalia Dip Southern Fried Chicken Southern Green Beans Rice and Gravy Buttermilk Chive Biscuits Fresh Strawberry Mousse Cake With the temperatures teasing us ever so slightly in Northern Illinois, I thought this menu would help jump start the warmth and maybe even get a few leaves to burst out of the buds now appearing on the trees. Hey, it's
April showers bring May flowers... boy, you are not kidding. The amount of rain we have had over the past week has caused road closures, flooding, and school closures (that's a new one). Needing a little sunshine in life, I thought I would bring in a sun-kissed baked good. There are countless lemon bar/square recipes out there, but this one is spot on. It
Almost everybody has eaten tomato soup in at least one of its many incarnations. Maybe you've graduated from the beloved Campbell's of your youth and tried making it in your own kitchen. I think that one can never have enough recipes for it. There are so many delicious variations on the classic that it begs for experimentation. Which brings me to this one. I use a
Shrimp and Sherry Cheese Spread Crackers Roast Chicken Pommes Anna Green Salad with Bacon, Peas, and Croutons Chocolate Espresso Crème Brûlée This Sunday dinner is a collection of some of our favorites. And when you see a roast chicken on the menu, 9 times out of 10 there will be something chocolate for dessert. Like the Meyer Lemon Molten Cakes, thi
After teasing you by listing this dessert on our Sunday dinner menu and a few requests for the recipe, I thought it would only be fair that I share with you. Chocolate and peanut butter is a much loved combination of flavors, and when you take those flavors and bake them up into a fudgy, flourless chocolate-like cake with a meringue top, and then serve it with a warm peanut butter
Some of you may recall that I vacationed with my children in Charleston, South Carolina over spring break. It was an overdue trip to see my parents' new home, visit with their friends, and get lost in all that the city of Charleston has to offer. One of those offerings is the restaurant/foodie scene. From a fine dining establishment like Husk to a low country seafood sh
Clams Casino Roasted Garlic Shrimp Cocktail Grilled Thick Cut Bone-in Aged Ribeye Steaks ( I use the same method as I do for the boneless strip steaks) Potato Crisps Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Torte There are two factors that have helped me put together this Sunday's dinner menu. 1. The return of Mad Men and 2.
Easter weekend heralds the official start of Spring for many. The resurrection of Jesus and the rebirth of Mother Nature make for a beautiful and welcome marker on our calendars. Many of us will celebrate this weekend with a standout Sunday meal. When I think of Easter meals, I of course think of the glazed ham. The next food that "springs" to mind (yow!) is asparag
When planning holiday or entertaining menus, I always start with dessert first. Why? I have an arsenal of sweet recipes to choose from and it is always hard to narrow it down to the right one. And it can be the more labor intensive part of the meal with the creaming of butter and sugar, the rolling of the dough, the baking, the frosting, on and on... Having said that, t
Pimento Cheese Glazed Turkey Meatloaf Dinner Grits Fordhook Lima Beans Fluffy Make-Ahead Dinner Rolls Blueberry Streusel Bars with Lemon Cream Filling Before my children and I depart for a little Spring Break trip, my husband and I had a little getaway together this weekend since he is unable to travel with us. Seeing how we would be in the car returning today
It is really cold, but today is the first day of Spring. That makes me think of warm earth in the garden, which leads my thoughts to the first thing to sprout, fresh chives. I had to find a way to get chives into a yummy weeknight dinner. Not only does this recipe accomplish that, it is also quick and easy to prepare and is a hit with everyone in the house. It's a cre
Pistachio Covered Goat Cheese Log Steak and Guinness Stew Cheddar Mashed Potatoes Buttered Peas Caraway Rye Bread Guinness Brownies When you think you should make soda bread, but need a platform for a sandwich to use up left over corned beef, what do you do? Well, I make a loaf of crusty caraway rye bread. One of the loaves goes perfectly well wi
'Tis the season for all things Emerald Isle. If you are a regular around here, you've probably had that point sufficiently (and hopefully deliciously) hammered home. So let me make another excuse to open some Guinness... and eat ice cream with chopped Heath bars in it. Got your attention? Eat a couple spoonfuls of this wonderful concoction and your focus will spli
This might look like an ordinary bowl of mashed potatoes, but is much more without much more effort. Irish Champ is the under-appreciated cousin to the more familiar tuber dish called Colcannon. Colcannon consists mainly of potatoes and cabbage (with the occasional addition of bacon or corned beef), where as Irish Champ is simply potatoes and chopped green onions.
Guinness, Shallot, and Blue Cheese Pâté Whiskey Glazed Corned Beef Mashed Potatoes with Scallions Sweet and Sour Cabbage Chocolate Guinness Pudding with Baileys Whipped Cream I was in the mood for a roast chicken this Sunday, but the four other voting members of the house had something else in mind. And with St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, I was
With the Blanquette de Veau on the menu this past Sunday evening, I wanted to start the day with something a little more friendly to the heart and waistline. I am sure many of you would like to enjoy the health benefits of a bran muffin, but are scarred by biting into a dense, dry and flat tasting baked good. This recipe will help heal those wounds and will have you looking
Before I begin, I must correct myself. When I posted about our Sunday dinner this past week, I spoke about the "lightness" in the meal. It sounded as if I meant light in flavor. But after one bite, it was clear that this dish was only "light" in one way and that was the color. When one cooks a recipe once or twice over the course of a couple of years, the reme
Baked Brie with Caramelized Onions Blanquette de Veau (Veal Stew) Potatoes Fondantes Glazed Carrots French Baguette Warm Chocolate Tart I like to think of this Sunday dinner menu as a seasonal transition. It has the comforting foods of the cold season, but ushers in just a hint of lightness for the warmer springtime temps (at least that's how I see it).
Sometimes the stars align just so and you wind up with a healthy and delicious salad in front of you. What, never happened to you? Ok, well stars align for all kinds of reasons. There were two things that happened in weirdly close proximity to get me to make this dish. First--my junior high schoolers made recipes with wheat berries in their Health and Nutrition cl
Keeping the tropical theme going, I'll share this sweet treat that we enjoyed this past Sunday. Coconut and pineapple is a natural pairing and this recipe certainly proves it. While this is a recipe that can be made quickly without much fuss, there are two important steps that you need to take when prepping and assembling. #1-- You can use either fresh or canned pineapp
Manchego Cheese and Quince Paste Serrano Wrapped Shrimp with a Romesco Dipping Sauce Cuban-Style Asado Pork with Vino Mojo Frijoles Negros Saffron Rice Cuban Bread Coconut-Pineapple Tart It's still February and we will have a good covering of snow on the ground for some time. Since I don't have a tropical vacation on my calendar in the near future
I love it when my local market (shout out to Sunset Foods) helps me plan my weekly menus. Pineapples, mangoes, and oranges were on sale this past week, so I was able to make a tropical take on my basic smoothie formula for a breakfast treat over the weekend. There was even extra fruit left over to keep in the freezer for future concoctions. This smoothie
Don't let the relative lack of height fool you. This torte packs all of the chocolate and raspberry flavor you can handle into its two dense layers. Notice the size of the slice. That is just about right to satisfy the dessert craver after a nice meal. But believe me, you'll want to have another for breakfast the next morning when you open the fridge and catch the gle
Roasted Shrimp Cocktail (without the garlic) Roasted Beef Tenderloin Béarnaise Sauce Pomme Frites Green Salad with Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette Chocolate-Raspberry Torte Crème Anglaise I am a little picky when it comes to the classic French sauce, béarnaise. I find that restaurant versions I have ordered are either too buttery, too herby, too eggy, or someth
The descriptions of this cake seem to include a lot of superlatives. Best this, greatest that, better than...Well, let's just say you might feel the earth move after just one bite. Yeah, this is some really, really good cake. Bake a simple chocolate cake, poke it all over with a skewer, drench it with a caramel/milk mixture, top it with a generous layer of sweetened whipped
Muffaletta Dip Shrimp Étouffée over steamed white rice Creole Cabbage Salad New Orleans French Bread Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake Many of you may recall that cabbage salad with red wine and garlic vinaigrette that I have listed on several Sunday dinner menus past. It's a salad that I have been trying to re-create for over 15 years after my aunt first s
?"Love...exciting and new..."? Or old, fickle, time-tested or comfortable. It is undefinable but recognizable in all its various forms. One way to express it for another human is through food. What else would you expect from a food blog?!? Here are some surefire hits from The Galley Gourmet archives. Cancel those reservations and show your beloved how much you
I hope y'all are up for another compilation or two this week, because the next big event to hit the Big Easy is right around the corner. My husband knows the Tuesday before Lent as Paczki (pronounced "punch-key") Day. Fat Tuesday is a day for those of Polish descent to eat one or five of those doughnut-like treats before giving up sweets for the Lord. Well, in New Orl
What do you get when you cross a fudge brownie with a peanut butter cup? Um...bliss! There are not real peanut butter cups in the recipe, however. Instead, there is a filling of extra crunchy peanut butter and a layer of milk chocolate ganache. The original recipe called for salted roasted peanuts in the brownie batter, but I wanted to go with more chocol
It was very difficult for me to narrow down the field for inclusion in the appetizer/snacks post, so I took the easy way out and broke them down into categories so I could include more of my favorites. I know that it is a long list, but please keep scrolling. You will find a recipe worthy of your attention, I promise you. Cold Dips/Spreads Bacon and Tomato Dip w
It is the week of the run-up to the Big Game on Super Sunday. Everyone wants something good to eat while watching the game, the commercials, or just talking at a party. I am reaching back into the Galley Gourmet archives for some of my favorite foods for game day indulgence. I'll start with the mains today, list some great snacks and appetizers on Thursday, then r
What could possibly make the best caramel sauce even better? Adding a little chocolate to it, of course! Drizzle it on a simple cake, a dish of ice cream, or just eat it with a spoon?. Once cooled and refrigerated, you can even spread it on a little cookie or sweet cracker. There's another way to use it, but I'll save that one for a separate post down the road. I
How many of you have ordered fried calamari at a restaurant and then been kinda disappointed that you did? You know what I mean-- those tough and rubbery rings that are either completely lacking in taste or smell like they were hanging out in the fishery a little too long? While I hold out hope for getting really good calamari at a restaurant at some point, I decided that it was
Calamari Fritti with Pepperoncini Aioli Spaghetti and Meatballs Green Salad with Caesar Vinaigrette Country Bread Roasted Garlic Spread Fresh Ricotta Cake Chocolate Caramel Sauce The Ricotta train just keeps rollin' along! And why not? It is the star ingredient of this delightful cake. There is a moist, yet light quality to the texture. &nb
Do you ever have a craving for a hearty serving of deep dish lasagna? You know--the layers of meat, veggies, pasta, and gooey cheese? Well, with a schedule full of basketball x 2, wrestling, and other school activities (not to mention my own daily chores), that rather labor intensive dish is not in the rotation these days, but this beauty of a recipe is ?. The
Homemade ricotta cheese-- really Nicole?? Yes, really?. And like all other things homemade in the kitchen, once you try it and taste it, you'll understand why. There is just no comparison in taste and texture. Speaking of texture-- by making your own ricotta, you can make the texture as smooth and creamy or as thick and curdy as you like. If I am going to
