Sunday, October 19, 2008

Maple Cranberry Butter

Made this recipe this morning. Lovely, just lovely. I was concerned that it wasn't thick enough, so on Mom's suggestion I added cornstarch, but I did discover that it thickened nicely on its own once it cooled off. Couldn't find the vanilla, so I didn't include it.

It's a bit too tart for me, and I can't taste the maple. That said, my mother liked it. It has a lovely, balanced flavor for a cranberry-based mixture.

This will be absolutely perfect on toast - or biscuits. I would like to spoon it over some turkey, myself!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Hamburger, Corn & Potatoes...

I didn't grow up calling it Shepherd's Pie. My Mom called it something French when she wasn't calling it "hamburger, corn and potatoes."

Tonight's version:
- browned ground beef, seasoned with a packet of Sazón.
- sweet niblet corn from a can with a green giant on the side
- mashed potatoes

For the mashed potatoes, I cut up some white-skinned generic taters. Left the skins on because my hands don't do the peeling thing. Boiled them.

Then, for seasoning: Kelp flakes w/cayenne. Cumin. Celtic Sea Salt. Ground black pepper. Whole Grain Dijon Mustard. Three chopped scallions. Yum! I like my mashed potatoes with flavor... and my folks don't like garlic, otherwise you'd see garlic in that list.

Preheated the oven to 375F.

Hamburger in the bottom of the casserole.
Corn next.
Mashed potatoes next.

Aluminum foil over all, into the oven for 30 minutes.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

The Spam Dagwood

I know that Spam Dagwoods aren't particularly New Englander, but there's nothing that Dad likes better than fried Spam on a hamburger roll piled high with lettuce, tomato and sweet onion.

So, for dinner tonight, I will open up the can of Spam-n-cheese that Dad picked up last week.

There are tomatoes in the fridge; I bought lettuce & Empire onions last Friday. Dad's bringing home hamburger rolls.

Going to slice up some potatoes and make oven fries.

I'll slice up the Spam and sauté it in a frying pan. I may spray the pan in a light coating of oil first, before putting in the Spam.

Going to warm up the sliced rolls in the oven,
Spread a bit o' yellow mustard on them and then start piling.

Baked Potatoes with Stilton and Cheddar

Wow.

I hadn't realized how much cooking a meal down here in my basement apartment would cheer my spirits. Wow. Now I see why my brother put up a sign that said "Mongo's Place."

I put six mini potatoes into my new toaster oven, set it to 400F and timed it to 40 minutes.

-- The potatoes smelled SO good while they were baking that my stomach started seriously growling. That was hilarious.

The timer dinged, I headed over and the tiny taters were done perfectly. Crunchy skins. Wow.

I took them into the kitchen, sliced them in half and put bits of stilton-and-cheddar over them. This place smells Amazing.

Today, today is the One Year Anniversary of my being back in Connecticut. On this morning, very early, Dad and I left Fredericksburg and drove north, through DC, through the Palisades, up the Merritt and on home.

So I figure that cooking my first meal down here is a fantastic way to celebrate.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

YouTube - Cookin' with Coolio #1: Coolio Caprese Salad

YouTube - Cookin' with Coolio #1: Coolio Caprese Salad

Love it. Brilliance. I'm going to have to buy his cookbook.

Sweet & Sour Kielbasa

okay, for today's Sunday afternoon dinner: Sweet & Sour Kielbasa

- I use smoked sausage instead of kielbasa because I like it more and the only kielbasa I really like is the homemade-by-a-Polish-grandmother kind...

Ingredients:
1.5lbs of smoked sausage (amount optional)
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 green pepper
1 orange pepper
1 Vidalia onion (or Empire, or Walla Walla, etc. SWEET.)
2 stalks of bok choy
2 stalks of celery
2 10oz jars of LaChoy Sweet & Sour sauce. Not making my own sauce today.

Warm oven to 350F.
Chop the veggies into bite-size pieces.
Slice the sausage into bite-size pieces.

a) boil smoked sausage until it's thoroughly warm
b) empty pot, set aside sausage in a casserole dish
c) in pot, put a bit of olive oil and all of the vegetables; saute until mostly cooked
d) combine veggies & sausage & sweet and sour sauce into casserole dish
e) bake @ 350F for 30 minutes or so

I have no pineapple today, otherwise I'd add that, too.

Got this recipe from a friend of mine at work. Most excellent.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Tartiflette Recipe – French Potatoes with Bacon and Cheese

Tartiflette Recipe – French Potatoes with Bacon and Cheese

I still really really want to make this. Need to find a substitute fro Reblechon, as I'm not sure I can get this in the US without ordering it from France.