With the planning and prep of Cinco de Mayo behind me, it’s time to move on in my head to the next big family social. Already I’ve been kicking around a few menu ideas for this year’s Mother’s Day. I wanted to put something wonderful together – and as usual, I can’t make up my mind. Brunch is always nice – one of my favorites. But then again, an Afternoon Tea for all the Moms is also a lovely idea. It’s one I’ve done before with wonderful success.
Bean and Chorizo Taquitos
There are dishes that come out of my kitchen that my guys let me know that I have managed to serve up what they consider to be a good meal. Then there are foods that come out of my kitchen and my guys let me know they really, truly enjoyed what they ate. Generally, when this happens I hear “you can make this again.” It is their way of letting me know having the same food twice is just fine by them. I strive to create a different meal every night. While some things are repeated such as mashed potatoes or a salad, the evening’s entrée changes nightly. (By entrée, I am referring to the main dish). My guys were in luck. The Taquitos I served up for Taco Mixer Tuesday were a dress rehearsal for Cinco de Mayo appetizer. So yeah, I’ll serve them up again tomorrow.
Orange Julius, What Could Be Better?
Today is National Orange Juice Day. Wow, does that leave us wide open for ideas? Big, tall glasses of freshly squeeze orange juice or sparkling Mimosa with Champagne and orange juice. Spice Orange Chicken made with real orange juice.
Continue reading “Orange Julius, What Could Be Better?”Honoring Big Sky Country with a Big Pan-Seared Steak
Montana – Big Sky Country. It will take your breath away. Glacier National Park and the northern tip of Yellowstone are part of Montana. Montana is the 41st state to enter the union on November 8, 1889. Montana is rich in western history. The Battle of Little Big Horn took place in what was then the Montana Territory in the summer of 1876. The Roosevelt Arch, the northern gateway to Yellowstone, is in Gardiner, Montana. Under the right conditions, the Northern Lights can be seen in Montana. A great place to visit, to explore, to embrace.
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Smokey Balsamic Herb Glazed Salmon
One of the great things about living in Farm Country are all the little fairs and festivals celebrating all things of the earth. We adore small country fairs. What I like best are all the cottage industries that get to strut their stuff. We’ve come home with jars of local honey, blends of spices and locally made cheeses. There are the farms dedicated to olives, with all sorts of flavored oils. And balsamic vinegars, made like fine wines. Kiddo and I love to walk among the various booths, sampling their creations, lingering over the flavors and discussing menu ideas. Kiddo truly is my sous chef.
More Cinco de Mayo
Honestly, it was not my intention to share yet another Three-Course Cinco de Mayo collection of recipes. I mean, I already gave you one Three-Course Menu, plus I gave you a million ideas with my Create Your Own Fiesta Feast posting. Okay, maybe not a million, but there were a lot of recipe links to choose from. Yet here I am, with more recipes in hand.
Continue reading “More Cinco de Mayo”National Truffle Day and Boozy Orange Truffles
Aren’t we lucky? Today is National Truffle Day. An entire day dedicated to the delights of the Candy Truffle. Truffles have been rumored to have been around in the Chocolatiere World since the Christmas holidays of 1895. However; it was an accident in the kitchen of French Chef Auguste Escoffier sometime in the 1920’s that has given us the Truffles we know and love today. As the story goes, one of his apprentices was attempting to make a pastry cream. He accidentally poured the hot cream into a bowl containing chunks of chocolate rather than the intended bowl of sugared egg mixture. As the chocolate and cream mixture cooled, he found that he could work the chocolate paste with his hands to form a bumpy ball. After rolling his new creation in a cocoa powder, the apprentice was struck by the resemblance to the luxurious truffles of the French region of Périgord and the Piedmont area of Italy. Hence the name.
Continue reading “National Truffle Day and Boozy Orange Truffles”
South of the Border Deviled Egg Platter
Do you have those Deviled Egg Trays that have a big, round circle in the middle? I’ve often wondered why it’s there. You aren’t going to place a bowl of dip in the middle of a platter of deviled eggs, are you? Do you fill it with greenery to make the dish pretty or just leave it alone? Whenever possible, I like to put something in the center, depending upon the style of egg. These south-of-the-border eggs went very well with another great appetizer, Stuffed Mini Peppers. You can put just about anything you like, or leave the center plain. Now if you are using a more modern deviled egg platter, chances are the center isn’t an issue.
Butter Brickle Toffee Yellow Cake
Once upon a time, my favorite ice cream was Butter Brickle. You could find it at any well-stocked grocery store. Then one day, it was gone. Poof. Vanished. I haven’t a clue why. It came down to making my own Butter Brickle Ice Cream, take an hour’s drive north to the original Gunther’s location where you stand in a line that snaked out the door and around the corner or take an even longer drive to tiny hamlet of Locke along the Sacramento Delta. There they have a hole in the wall old-fashion ice cream parlor that carries Gunther’s Ice Cream.
Cinco de Mayo Three Course Celebration
For those of you who have been following me, you know how much I love to put together complete menus – especially for the “holidays”. May is a month filled with special days – beginning with Cinco de Mayo (the 5th of May); then Mother’s Day and finally Memorial Day – the official kick off of the summer cooking season.
Continue reading “Cinco de Mayo Three Course Celebration”Chorizo Chili Frito Pie
We’ve all heard of Taco Tuesday, right? In our house, we’ve expanded the whole Taco Tuesday thing to incorporate anything with a Mexican flavor. Tacos, burritos, chilies, seafoods, pork dishes, beef dishes – it’s a free for all of Mexican Favorites. I know, Frito Pie isn’t exactly authentic Mexican, it’s more Mexican-American. Still, it’s quick, easy and oh so delicious. Served with slices of avocado and a few pitches of Margarita and you’ve got all the makings for a great night!
Oatmeal Blueberry Cookies in Honor of National Oatmeal Cookie Day
Today is one of those very busy National Days. We’ve got Military Brats Day, Honesty Day, Adopt a Sheltered Pet Day and Bugs Bunny Day just to name a few. I had kicked around the idea of Carrot Cake for Bugs Bunny Day. But then I decided to go with National Oatmeal Cookie Day. After all, you can never have too many cookies!
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Tuscan Pesto Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Wedges
Would you like your family to look at you as though you have completely lost your mind? Tell them you are making Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, then put an empty glass on a salad plate for serving. Let me tell you, the looks on their faces are priceless.
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National Shrimp Scampi Day
On this day, we honor the deliciousness of shrimp sautéed in butter, garlic, lemon juice and white wine. Oh my stars, can the day get any better?
Continue reading “National Shrimp Scampi Day”Call the Neighbors for a slice of Blueberry Slab Pie
On this day America honors one of its favorite desserts, Blueberry Pie. This pie has been enjoyed in America since the early settlers. Blueberry Pie is so popular in Maine, it is the official state dessert. Recipes for Blueberry Pie date back to 1872. There are a lot of reasons for eating blueberries. It is one of the healthiest fruits on the market. Really. A stead diet of blueberry extract has been proved to improve balance, coordination, and even short-term memory loss – in aging rats. Some say, if it works on old rats, it should have the same effect on old farts, too.
Continue reading “Call the Neighbors for a slice of Blueberry Slab Pie”
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