It is nothing new that husbands don't arrive home when they say they are going to be there. I've been dealing with this for over 33 years. Tonight traffic coming from Long Island was the culprit. Sometimes I'm busy outside (not in these months), sometimes I read, sometimes I watch my favorite political talk shows and....sometimes I get into trouble in the kitchen - Like tonight. I made my Pollo Alla Potentina and expected dinner to be around … [Read more...]
Archives for November 2012
Baking with Spice – Anise and A Word about Grandmothers
Genus Pimpinella anisum Ok, well, United Airlines delivered me back to the land of Winter weather and, well, no sense in fighting it. I nearly made a bargain to trade places with the lady at the National Car Rental office on Monday who said she was from NJ and wanted to come back (really?). After dusk, as we drove home from the airport, we saw so many houses decorated for Christmas and a pretty good number with their Christmas trees up … [Read more...]
Sweets for the Sweet – Sweet Potato Rolls
Happy Day before Thanksgiving Day! Here is my favorite recipe for Sweet Potato Rolls. I have to tell you, I am grateful for the day I found this recipe. It is now the family and friend favorite and they now ask for it for every special meal and not so special meals as well. SWEET POTATO ROLLS - Note: I prepare this dough the day ahead of serving and let it rise in the refrigerator overnight. 1/4 c warm water 1 package active dry … [Read more...]
So Many Recipes, So Little Time – Today’s Feature – Vegetable Dishes with Goat Cheese
I have been awake since 4:30 this morning. I don't know what it is - I have trouble adjusting to the time change or something. Anyway, I am back at the table working on recipe collections - always looking for interesting new takes on vegetables. I am a firm traditionalist when it comes to the Turkey and stuffing itself, but when it comes to vegetables, I like to make them as interesting as possible. Unfortunately, this often involves … [Read more...]
The Eastham Turnip – the lore, the fame, the following…….
note: I stand corrected - this is not an Eastham Turnip - which, I have been instructed, have green tops! Today is the Eastham Turnip Festival in Eastham, MA - for those of you not familiar, on the "outer" or "lower" Cape, on Cape Cod, MA. This is a big event for Cape Codders and all those who love the Cape, cooking and baking on the Cape and farming on the Cape. The "festival" itself celebrates the local turnip with cooking events, … [Read more...]
Cornucopia – More Favorite Sides for Thanksgiving
Two of my favorite Autumn Ingredients Cornucopia translates into "Horn of Plenty" and this is a good description for my collection of recipes for side dishes for this season. Today I'll share a couple more of my favorites. Before I continue on with some recipes for my favorite vegetable side dishes for Thanksgiving, a word of note about Thursday's recipe for Wild Rice. When working with a main ingredient such as wild rice, as with … [Read more...]
Take A Walk on the Wild Side – Wild Rice with Dried Cherries, Orange and Pecans
Just so you know, Lou Reed had a song entitled, "Take a Walk on the Wild Side" in 1972, the year I graduated from high school - just in case you wondered whether there was a significance to my title. But, most of my pastry school friends weren't even born then, and making this short story even more ridiculous, my kids weren't born until 1989 and 92 - ugh. Yesterday, I mentioned that one of my favorite Thanksgiving side dishes is my Wild Rice … [Read more...]
The Wonderful World of Chutney; Thanksgiving and Holiday Meals – Mostly Sacrosanct
Hoping to make some spicy cookies with this beautiful copper cookie cutter over the next week or so! Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I have been reading lots of email solicitations, magazine features, etc about the "big meal" and all the preparations which are in order. Preparing for cooking and baking for this holiday evokes a myriad of impulses for me - mostly to expand and improve upon my repertoire of favorite recipes from … [Read more...]
Consolation Prize – Bright Light, Lifted Spirits, Shiny Copper Pots
Ok, thank you to Mother Nature - I will begrudgingly say so - thank you for the combination of yesterday's snow and this morning's bright light. The word console means to allay sorrow or grief and a consolation prize is given to the person who doesn't win the contest. So, Mother Nature threw me a bone - I am consoled by the reflection off the snow of today's sunshine, and if fact, elatedly so! In fact, this morning's light is even … [Read more...]
Let it Snow on November 7 – Dinner Tonight: Pollo Alla Potentina – My Version
Tonight I made the Pollo Alla Potentina referenced in my blog post from this morning. You will note that three of the chicken pieces look lighter in color than the others. This is because I started with 6 thighs and decided I needed more. So, I set the dish aside and went out again and got three more. I browned them separately and then added them into the dish. It was excellent - hearty and flavorful - and I will definitely make this dish … [Read more...]