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Monthly Archives: October 2017
Another month comes to a close and it is time for me to post the meals made during the month that did not become a blog post – or were a previous blog post now that I am posting the weekly menus. For those not following my Instagram account where I post pictures of the meal made each night, this post is a great way to catch up… and see what you have missed. Be prepared to get hungry as these pictures certainly whet my appetite. Ready, set, go! Pizza Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Prosciutto Bark Beef with Broccoli Cavatappi with Sausage Ragu Caribbean Arroz con Pollo Chicken Cordon Bleu with Roasted Asparagus in a Porcini Sherry Cream sauce Sausage Manicotti with Steamed Broccoli Pan seared coriander…
Here we are quickly closing in on the holidays as October ends and November begins. The weather is getting cooler, the days are getting shorter, and comfort foods are on my mind. This week’s menu is based on previously posted recipes that showcase simple yet delicious comfort foods… or at least my type of comfort foods. I am sure as the weeks go on, I will showcase many other ‘comfort foods’ I have posted in the past. For now, let’s just enjoy these! Sunday – Schnitzel, Spaetzle, and Rotkohl Could I eat this meal every week? Yeah, I could… but I won’t. Monday – Beef and Bean Enchiritos These hybrid of two popular Mexican restaurant staples is another…
Just in time for Halloween partying is this spookily named cocktail, the Cadáver Reviver. While it is not scary in appearance (i.e. this cocktail does not contain ingredients simulating blood or other ghoulish additives), it is based on tequila which is dangerous enough by itself! I like the wonderfully complex yet fresh taste of this cocktail; to me it is a very interesting twist on a margarita. It is an easy sipper that will either keep you dancing at the party or will get you to relax into a semi-catatonic state. So which do you decide to be – the Thriller or a Zombie? Either way, this cocktail satisfies! Save Print Cadáver Reviver Prep time: 5 mins Total time: 5 mins Serves…
Tonight’s recipe is a close approximation to the party favorite chili I make for events. While I have claimed I would never share this recipe when requested for it in the past, I just cannot be that selfish. This variant is a small batch version of the original; primarily only missing bell peppers and onions from the recipe. The secret ingredient is the enchilada sauce – which jump starts the chili flavors without having to roast and re-hydrate dried peppers, etc. So the secret ingredient makes this dish a quick cooking chili as well. The beauty of using enchilada sauce is that you can control the initial heat level by the type of red enchilada sauce used. I selected a milder sauce tonight to allow…
How appropriate that I slated fish tacos on a Tuesday! This is a dish I have never made before so here is my ‘just winging it’ recipe – which worked out fantastically if I say so myself. I opted for tilapia for its quick cooking and neutral flavor as I wanted the spices and accompaniments to shine. And did they ever… especially the ‘sauce’. After I finished this meal, I wondered if this one could be classified as health food given the moderate amount of protein cooked in coconut oil and variety of fresh vegetables packed into miniature carbohydrate delivery mechanism. Heck, it works for me! Anyway, these fish tacos scream balance in ingredients, flavors and textures. Cabbage adds crunch, pico de gallo…
How about another cheesecake recipe, this time perfect for any Fall celebration? Here is a versatile and surprisingly easy cheesecake recipe that will definitely delight your friends and guests. The versatility of this recipe is in the construction – you can layer the pumpkin filling or swirl it throughout if you are feeling especially creative for the marbled effect. As for the ease in preparation, it is as simple as turning on the mixer. Well… sort of. I like this cheesecake recipe for it’s lightness and subtle sweetness. If the recipe looks familiar it is because I based it on the Cheesecake with Smoked Cherries I prepared in August. This base cheesecake combined with pumpkin creates a unique dessert that is slightly sweet and warmly…
Well, here we are moving right on through October with another weekly menu. I followed last week’s menu well so let’s see how well I do this week. I hope these weekly menus provide some help in your own meal planning. I know they really benefit me in grocery shopping and kitchen time management so I enjoy my evenings. Of course, the menu also gives me something to anticipate when dinner time comes around! So without further ado, let’s jump right in! Sunday – Berbere and Orange Chicken Breast Salad Tonight it is time to enjoy something light… but filled with flavor! Monday – Egg Roll Noodle Bowl I have a guest requesting this dish from a post a few week…
First, let me apologize for missing last week’s cocktail post. It was a hectic day that stretched into a hectic weekend and no one was probably more disappointed than I. So, in keeping with the theme of being on track (like the recent menu posts), let’s get Friday’s happy hour started… Here is a cocktail that is just a bit different. Many people (including myself until now!) only think of using rum in sweeter cocktails or mixed with tropical ingredients like orange, lime, pineapple, etc. But the closest association with a tropical fruit in tonight’s cocktail is orange bitters and an orange peel twist as the garnish. This drink heavily relies on rum’s sweetness to harmonize with…
This recipe comes from several sources which I have combined to make this one. I wanted to try something new yet familiar that would be easy to prepare yet extremely flavorful. The added beauty of this dish is that it can be made with chicken instead of prawns, served with rice or rice noodles, made with any vegetables you want or have on hand, and the spiciness can be adjusted to suit your tastes. It is easy to see the Thai influence in this dish and I think this recipe honors that great culinary style while using readily available ingredients. I will admit that I struggled to name this dish so I opted for a general description rather than something with a bit more flair. Although under any…
I hope you have enjoyed following along with the dinner picture posts on Instagram form the past two weeks. Keeping the trend going, here is the menu for the coming week. This week I am re-using many previously posted recipes like I have in each of the prior weeks. Again, the goal is to enjoy a variety of delicious meals while minimizing waste. Last week was fun since I ended up swapping a few meals around during the week to accommodate my schedule. It will be interesting to see how this coming week pans out. Are you ready to see what is on deck for the week? OK, let’s go! Sunday – Swedish Meatballs With the warmth of allspice and nutmeg prominent in these meatballs…