04 January 2009

let's drink more wine in 2009

so, it's 2009, and where does time go? (if you know, please email me) ... anyway, its that time of the year that resolutions are popular. dare i get on that bandwagon? sure, why not? here are my top five for two thousand nine:

  1. figure out blogging and really spend more time updating and writing this blog
  2. read my monthly foodie magazines while they are still current
  3. cook or bake something from one of the above-mentioned magazines; write and post about it during the same month
  4. get better at food photography
  5. drink more wine in '09

yeah, i know, cheesy. its a start though and with such low expectations, there is no where to go but up. ha! happy new year y'all. i hope this is your best year yet! ready, set, cook, eat!

cheers!
sherry

09 November 2008

cold mornings and breakfast



dont you just love breakfast? lazy morning home-cooked breakfast? and if it includes bacon, dont you love it all the more? dont get me wrong, i am all for being mindful of what you put into your body, but, mmmmmm, i (heart) bacon. a lot.







for special, my frister makes us waffles. she makes the best. in the world. honest. there is nothing like a cool (or cold and snowy) morning walking into the kitchen and smelling bacon, waffles and brewing coffee. she usually serves the waffles with fresh-frozen mashed strawberries, fresh orange juice, butter, syrup and whipped cream. i must mention the bacon is usually piled so high on the plate it looks as if it will fall off at any moment, but, the second the plate hits the table, its gone, as we fight each other for these crsip strips of goodness.













during the holidays we can expect to be served the waffles, especially if my niece is home from college or any of the kids are home for a visit. she is really good about that. its a fun, high calorie, delightful breakfast shared with family and better than anything you can get at any restaurant.


today, the weather took a turn for winter and i am anticipating our first waffle morning of fall/winter 2008-09, which should happen any day now. as much as i detest this weather, i do love the waffle mornings we share. yummmmmmm, i (heart) bacon and i (heart) frister waffles! thanks frister for what you do for us. (i heart you too)








08 November 2008

she's back, i hope!

life. wow. i love life but does it ever have a way of keeping me busy and away from things i like to do, sometimes. i have been thinking about posting for months ... and well, life happened. but now i am back and plan to post at least once a month, no matter what! i have cooked some awesome meals lately and want to share them with you. yum. yum. i mean that. check back later this weekend and you will see what i mean. cheers!

14 August 2008

saville garden



yesterday the ups man stopped at my house. i dont know about you, but when that big brown truck stops at the end of my driveway, i am like a little kid on christmas morning. anyway, the ups man delivered a nice sized box to my front porch and as soon as he left i ripped into the box.

the box did not contain new knives. no new pans. not spices or exotic ingredients. ... now, before i tell you what was in the box, i have to tell you the story of this purchase. i have actually been waiting for this since april. that is a long time, for me anyhow. this is something i didnt actually need but wow, what a nice addition to the table. ready? service for 12 flatware! and not only did i just get the flatware .... serving pieces were also included! TA DA!!!

do you know how many years its been since i have had matching flatware? me either. its been ... a while. quite a while actually. matter-of-fact, i think the last time i got new flatware was when my daughter was in school. whew, it was time, past time.

so, when i host the dinner that the flatware will debut, you will know. i cant wait. the holidays will be here before we know it, the family will all gather in this little town and the flatware, the reed and barton-saville garden, flatware will serve us.

ohhhhhhhh, the little things.

cheers!

09 August 2008

hb jc

the shopping list from hell,

a recipe that reads quick but in reality takes hours,

too many stairs up to the tiny apartment,

starting (to cook) dinner at 9pm, eastern standard time ...

thus began "the project".

julie powell took on the challenge, did what i could never do and inspired me to at least try.

just another ordinary week. just another ordinary dinner? wrong. tonight the family was going to enjoy a french meal. and not just any french meal. it would be le diner exceptionnel! (i apologize now for not being able to accent properly) how does 'supremes de volaille a blanc' sound? great, i thought. how about some good risotto cooked in chicken broth? ok, bring it on.





the recipe doesnt look hard at all. i should be able to whip this right up, pay attention the risotto and even serve a veggie??? actually, yes. easier than first glance. and, i really wanted to 'be authentic' and true to the recipe so i did buy bone-in chicken breasts and de-boned according to instruction.



as i sipped on my (first) glass of 2005 bordeaux, i really enjoyed cooking the meal. prep the chicken errr, supremes, start the risotto and veggie. supremes into the oven, stir the risotto and veggie. supremes are ready, make the sauce, finish the risotto, grab the veggie off the stove. serve. yes, that easy. the supremes were tender, moist and flavorful. the risotto, creamy. good. and the veggie combo of zucchini, yellow squash and corn added a lightness to the richness of the cream sauce.

actually, this is a good easy and classic french recipe. the flavors are wonderful - strong and rich . and, i resisted the urge to change the recipe too. for now. more wine please. so sure, go for it some evening after work.

supremes de volaille a blanc
with my notes added

4 supremes (buy skinless, boneless)
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
Big pinch of white pepper
A heavy, covered, fireproof casserole about 10-inches in diameter
A round of waxed paper 10-inches in diameter and buttered on one side (i used parchment)
4 tb butter

Rub the supremes with drops of lemon juice and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Heat the butter in the casserole until foaming. Quickly roll the supremes in butter, lay the buttered paper over them, cover casserole and place in hot oven. After 6 minutes, press top of supremes with your finger. If still soft, return to oven for a moment or two. When the meat is springy to the touch it is done. Remove the supremes to a warm platter and cover while making the sauce (2 to 3 minutes)

For the sauce:

1/4 cup white or brown stock or canned beef bullion
1/4 cup port, Madeira, or dry white vermouth
1 cup whipping cream
Salt and pepper
Lemon juice as needed
2 Tb fresh minced parsley

Pour the stock or bullion and wine into the casserole with the cooking butter and boil down quickly over high heat until liquid is syrupy. Stir in the cream and boil down again over high heat until cream has thickened slightly. Off heat, taste carefully for seasoning, and add drops of lemon juice to taste. Pour the sauce over the supremes, sprinkle with parsley and serve at once.

another glass of wine for the cook, its dinner time!

so, julie powell, wherever you are, thank you. thank you for doing what i will never do but inspiring me to try. the fam was able to enjoy another good dinner.

***many thanks to lisa over at Champaign Taste for hosting the 3rd Annual Julia Child Birthday Celebration. my hope is that with more experience my picture-taking wont be so lame and my writing will improve; so, be gentle if you leave a comment. all hints and tips will be given serious consideration!***

bonne l'anniversaire, julia.

bon appetite!

a la votre!

06 August 2008

no, i am not a baker but i try it on occasion

whatever possessed me to start a blog and then go off on vacation? ha! well, i am home now and ready to get my cook on!

i love a good farmers market. i plan to drive to the 'big city' on saturday and really do some damage. but, a neighbor brought by some zucchini yesterday. naturally a couple loaves of zucchini bread followed.

i used a basic recipe, nothing special, but good bread. papa loves it! (oh, i gave a loaf to the neighbor, hopefully, assuring more zucchini!)

Basic Zucchini Bread Recipe
adapted from various sources

3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1 3/4 cup sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
2 teas mexican vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teas cinnamon
1 teas fresh-grated nutmeg
1 teas baking soda
1/2 teas baking powder
1 teas salt

optional: nuts (1 cup)

preheat oven to 350*. grease and flour two bread pans.

combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a bowl. (add the nuts now if you are adding them to the bread) set aside.

in a large bowl, whisk the eggs. whisk in the oil, sugar, zucchini and vanilla. add the dry ingredients to this mixture.

divide the dough into the bread pans. bake for 50-55 minutes until toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean.

cool slightly and enjoy with salted european butter. mmmmmm.

cheers!

16 July 2008

a midsummer night's dream

i love summer. hot sun, a cloudless blue sky, warm breezes, the lazy feeling that comes with the heat, baseball ... and hamburgers on the grill. yum. i love the sizzle of the grill when the patty hits it, the sear of the burger and smell of the juicy burgers cooking. i mean really is there better?

so last night was a classic summer dinner. burgers, salad, chips, red wine and family. dinner was at 6pm and we just sat around eating and talking. the burgers were done, 'perfectly cooked' i said. 'yes sherry, you are amazing' replied my (friend + sister =) frister, san---ta.

simple. dinner. family. i loved it. cheers!



- A Midsummer's Night Dream, Shakespeare -