Cafe Rio Addiction

I really love Cafe Rio's pulled pork salad with the handmade flour tortillas, the sweet pork, and of course the scrumptious cilantro-lime dressing.  I could eat it all day - heavenly!  So maybe everyone has figured out a knock-off version of the dressing, but I just found one that everyone in my family thinks is better than Cafe Rio, which I'm not claiming, just saying.  If you are interested in checking it out, it is pretty easy to put together.

Creamy Lime-Cilantro Dressing
Recipe by Ourbestbites.com

1 pack (1oz) Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix (regular or buttermilk, and ignore directions on the packet)
1C mayo
1/2 C milk (or buttermilk depending on which packet you buy)
1 lime
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/2 C roughly chopped cilantro
1/4 C green salsa*
hot sauce

 Place milk, mayo, and ranch mix in a blender.   Juice the lime in there too, you should get about 2T juice.  Toss in the garlic, cilantro and green salsa.  Blend 'er up.  Sample it and add hot sauce to taste.  Make it several hours ahead of time to allow it to thicken.

*A note about green salsa:
There are several brands of green salsa available in most supermarkets and they have various degrees of heat.  One of the most commonly seen brands is Hernandez.  Hernandez brand is a lot spicier than any of the others I've tried.  Even their medium green salsa is way too spicy for my liking.  I like to buy La Costena because their  medium is actually really mild.  That way I get all of the flavor of the tomatillos but I control the level of heat with the hot sauce.  If you're not used to buying green salsa, make sure to sample it first before you put it in the dressing so you know what you're getting into!

Fresh, Filling and GREEN!

Finally we blog about March's dinner... Being that it is my first time blogging about this little group, I would like to express my love for it. I really really love food. I feel like each one of these meals that have been "put on the table" have been unique, creative, artistic, gourmet, healthy, and most of all delicious. What a wonderful group of ladies you all are. It is fun for me that we don't all know each other super well but we are getting to know each other through and over food. Can life get any better? Amazing food and even better company!

Back to March... It was very exciting to have it be our night to cook! We didn't realize till shortly before that it was St. Patricks day, luckily some green foods were already in the plans.

I think for me at least, the hardest part is trying to settle on a cohesive menu, and then comes the testing. Once we had decided what we were having and how we were making it all, and once my family had been served the same sort of dish 11239 different ways, I loved the day of. It was actually fun doing the cooking. Because I really love cooking, and baking. It would not have been as fun without Haley my sitter who helped with my girls :)

The menu: We did not take pictures the night of like we should've. We took a few with camera phone's that did not turn out very well, so most of these pictures are of the items we had re made. Tressa will add her recipe's soon!

This is the easiest, mostly do ahead bread ever. I made the white loaf from the New York Times Jim Lahey No Knead Bread Recipe. And the Whole Wheat Rosemary Olive Loaf from Cooks Illustrated, it was adapted from the NY Times recipe. It fit in perfectly with the St. Patricks day theme since it is made with beer. I have made it (as pictured below) without the rosemary and olives, just as a honey whole wheat loaf and it is fabulous and flavorful! You start the dough the day before you want it because it takes about 18 hours to rise and therefore requires almost no kneading. I love it for it's hard crusty outside and soft inside. It is great with just butter, honey butter, jam or on it's own but was accompanied on this night with a wonderful Double Tomato Bruschetta with smoked mozzarella that Tressa made! Yum!

2 cups(10 oz) all purpose flour

1 cup (5 1/2 oz) whole wheat flour

1/4 teaspoon instant or rapid rise yeast

1 1/2 tsp salt

3/4 room temp water

1/2 cup mild flavor beer (Budweiser) room temp

2 Tablespoon honey

1 Tablespoon white vinegar

1. Whisk the flours yeast and salt together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the water, beer, honey and vinegar together. Gently fold the liquid mixture into the flour mixture with a rubber spatula until the dough comes together and looks shaggy. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for at least 8 hrs but up to 18.

2. Lay and 18x12 inch sheet of parchment paper inside a 10 inch skillet and spray it with vegetable oil spray. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter and knead by hand to form a smooth, round ball, 10-15 times. (this can be as simple as folding it over itself 10 times if you don't feel comfortable kneading) Shape the dough into a ball. Transfer the dough seem-side down, to the prepared skillet.

3. Lightly spray the dough with vegetable oil spray, cover loosely with greased plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place until the loaf has doubled in size, about 2 hours (sometimes if I need to hurry this 2 hr period, I will put it in a warm dryer that has recently dried a load of laundry. don't turn it on of course, just a warm place)

4. About 30 minutes before baking, adjust an oven rack to the lowest position, place a large covered Dutch oven on the rack, and heat the oven to 500 degrees.

5. If you'd like, cut a large X 1/2 deep into the op of the loaf using a razor blade or large knife, then lightly dust with flour. Carefully remove the pot from the oven and remove the lid. Pick up the parchment and dough and carefully lower them into the hot pot, letting any excess parchment hang over edge of pot.

6. Cover pot with lid and return it to the oven, and reduce the oven temperature to 425. Bake for 30 minutes then remove the lid and continue to bake for 30 minutes then remove the lid and continue to bake uncovered until the crust is a deep golden brown and the center registers 210 degrees on an instant-red thermometer, 20-30 minutes. (for me I bake for 25 then only 5-10 with lid off, or for a less crusty top just 30-35 minutes with the lid on)

7.Carefully remove the bread from the pt transfer to a wire wrack and let cool to serve. ( I never let it cool all the way)

Whew that was a long one.

Here are the recipes for the salad.

Herbed Goat Cheese

Chianti Poached Pears -I did not use a bay leaf although that would've been good I am sure. I used the tips here and did the parchment paper thing. I poached my pears whole. and retained them in their syrup for a few days in the fridge.

Candied Pecans- sugar and pecans in a dry pan, medium heat. Add a little bit of salt. No exact measurements sorry. Just keep stirring till sugar melts and take off heat before they burn. Watch carefully.

Salad Dressing- Pomegranate infused Balsamic Vinegar with Olive oil, salt and pepper. Example of ratio, 1/4 cup balsamic, 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil. 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper.

Arugula

Roasted Veggies-

Carrots, Tomatoes, Beets, Butternut Squash, Fingerling Potato's, Shallots/Onions, (there are brussel sprouts pictured here but I don't think I did them on the night we cooked) I cannot remember all the veggies we did. But, chop them up about the same size, leave the tomato's a bit bigger because they cook quicker. Coat them lightly in extra virgin olive oil. (I often use the olive oil PAM) salt and pepper. Roast at 425 for 45-50 minutes. Turn pan and toss veggies if necessary so that they brown easily.

Citrus Pesto- the recipe I used is here. We did not do the swordfish part obviously. And I added 2-3 Tbs of Trader Jo's Orange Muscat Vinaigrette. But I like the combo of the fish with the citrus pesto. I did make it with chicken the other night and liked that too. The whole wheat Orzo I found at Whole Foods.

Cookie Quartet-I love cookies what can I say. They are not very "gourmet" however. But baking is a huge part of my life and is what I often reach for after a meal as my sweet treat so it definitely suits me. I hope at least one of the cookies suited you. The Monster Cookies are made with natural peanut butter. I usually use the Skippy's but have used others that work too. They are flourless. The browned butter chocolate chip cookies are great in the full fat recipe but also good in the lighter recipe which is what you all tried. Kate's cornflake Cookies are the ones I make most. The recipe was given to me by my friend Kate. I have altered it a bit from her version but still give her full credit for the recipe. The key to success for these cookies is to use a scoop to keep the sizes uniform and use parchment paper.

Tressa's cookie really stole the show, as it was our "green" festive cookie. It packed great flavor and was a wonderful addition. It changed the dessert portion from a Cookie Trifecta to a Cookie Quartet. Doesn't the latter have a nice ring? :)

Chocolate Chip Cookies (lighter version)

1 cup (5 ounces) plus 2 Tbs flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

5 Tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 cup packed (3 1/2 ounces) dark brown sugar

1/4 cup (1 3/4 ounces) granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1.375 degree oven. Parchment paper on cookie sheets. Whisk the flour, salt, and baking soda together in a bowl.

2.Melt 3 Tbs of butter in an 8 inch skillet over medium high heat until the butter is dark golden brown and has a nutty aroma, 3-5 minutes. Transfer the browned butter to a large bowl and stir in the remaining 2 Tbs butter until completely melted.

3.Whisk the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla into the melted butter until incorporated. Whisk in the egg until the mixture is smooth with no lumps, about 30 seconds. Let the mixture stand for 2 minutes, then whisk vigorously for stand for 3 minutes, then whisk vigorously for 30 seconds. Repeat this process of resting and whisking twice more until the mixture and 6 tablespoons of the chips until combined.

4.Working with 1 heaping tablespoon of dough at a time, roll the dough into balls and lay them on the prepared baking sheets, spaced about 2 1/2 inches apart. Press the remaining 2 tablespoons chip into the tops of the cookies.

5. Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, until the edges are set and beginning to brown but the centers are still soft, puffy, and underdone, 8-11 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through baking.

6. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes, then serve warm or transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies (full fat recipe)

1 3/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

14 (1 3/4 sticks) Tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

1 teaspoon table salt*

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips or chunks**

3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted (optional)***

375 degree oven. Line sheets with parchment paper.

Whisk flour and baking soda together in a medium bowl; set aside.

Heat 10 tablespoons butter in a 10" skillet over medium high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has a nutty aroma, 1-3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and transfer browned butter into a large heatproof bowl. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons butter into hot butter until completely melted.

Add both sugars, salt, and vanilla to bowl with butter and whisk until fully incorporated. Add egg and yolk and whisk until mixture is smooth with no sugar lumps remaining, about 30 seconds. Let mixture stand 3 minutes, then whisk for 30 seconds. Repeat process of resting and whisking 2 more times until mixture is thick, smooth, and shiny. Using rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture until just combined, about 1 minute. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, giving dough final stir to ensure no flour pockets remain.

Divide dough into 16 portions, each about 3 tablespoons (or use #24 cookie scoop) Arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.

Bake cookies one tray at a time until cookies are golden brown and still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft. 10-14 minutes. Rotate baking sheet half way through baking. Cool cookies completely before serving.

*If you use salted butter don't use a full teaspoon salt. Maybe a half teaspoon

**The recipe recommends Ghirardelli chocolate chips. the 60% coca ones. I personally preferred using half the 60% cocoa and half milk chocolate both Ghirardelli

***Toast your pecans in a dry pan DO NOT BURN!!!

Monster Cookies

3 eggs

1 1/4 cups brown sugar

1 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 c peanut butter

1 stick butter

2 teaspoon soda

1/4 teaspoon powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 1/2 cups oats

1/2 cups chocolate chips (heaping)

1/2 cups M & M's (heaping)

350 degree oven

Mix eggs, sugars, and butters together. Mix dry ingredients together and then add to wet ingredients. then add choco chips and M&M's. 2 inch balls (Ice cream scoop) 15-17 minutes to Bake.

Kate's Cornflake Cookies

Mix together in bowl

2 1/3 cup flour

2 cups oats

1/2 tsp b. powder

1 tsp b. soda

1/2 tsp salt

In a separate bowl mix:

3 sticks of butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp vinegar

2 eggs

Cream together

Add dry ingredients. When just mixed add:

1 cup coconut

2 cups cornflakes

When just mixed add:

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Scoop with cookie scoop or in 2 inch balls. Bake on parchment lined cookie sheets at 350 for 15-17 minutes

Pistachio Cookie recipe. Tressa added white chocolate chips. Yum!

Rustic Easter

Too Much Information:
I just wanted to say how much I appreciate being around good food and good people.  A couple of years ago Tera and I had a few conversations about wanting to start a cooking type group.  We toyed with the idea of making it about food and entertaining, about the centerpieces, about the recipes, or about cooking gadgets.  Or maybe it would simply be about getting together with good people.  Because of our lack of indecision, our ideas about the dinner party faded and life went on without us making any decision on our fancy smancy dinner group.

I'm not sure if I was Tera's first pick for a partner or if I was the last on her list.  I'm just glad we are partners and I'm glad someone made the decision (Cassaundra) to start a cooking/dinner group.  I love it. And I love my cooking partner.  In our quest for the perfect meal we met at the car dealership during a routine oil change and not-so routine tire repair to skim through cookbooks.  We made runs to each others cars and houses with test dishes.  We made our children and husbands be the guinea pigs for new recipes.  I want you to know that we take finding the right recipe seriously.

With that being said, I am very glad that last night is over.  I woke up this morning with a huge headache.  I dreamt about how the Brussels sprouts were a little too roasted, some of the pork loin might have been a little dry, and how we made you eat food that you may not have enjoyed.  Apparently I was a little stressed.  The orchestration of putting food on the table for ten people is slightly daunting.  The food needs to be hot.  One of my pet peeves is eating cold food.  And the space between each course needs to be timed perfectly.  There were mistakes last night.  I am hoping that the recipes will stand for themselves and the presentation will be judged with kindness and a hunger for good food.

Thanks for eating,
Denise

I am so happy to be a part of this group!  Denise was definitely my first choice and I'm so glad she accepted!!!!  Not only have I thoroughly enjoyed partaking at other host's tables, I very much enjoyed the process of hosting our own.  It was completely stressful but so much fun.  I now want to host more dinner parties and set beautiful tables.  Though we had many imperfections, I think the final outcome was enjoyable and we learned so many lessons.

I hope you use the recipes with your own families!
Tera

Garlic Stuffed Turkey Meatballs with Creamy Dill Dressing
Thank you:  Whipperberry

Ingredients:

2 ½ lbs. lean ground turkey

2 Tbsp. dried parsley

½ tsp. paprika
½ tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. grated pecorino romano (optional)
30-40 whole garlic cloves (unpeeled)
3-4 tsp. olive oil

Directions:

 

Heat a pot of water to boiling. Separate garlic cloves and drop into boiling water for one minute. Scoop them out with a slotted spoon, and cool slightly on a paper towel. Now the peelings should remove easily. After all the cloves are peeled, return them to the boiling water for 30 minutes, then remove and again lay them on a paper towel.

Place all other ingredients (except oil) in the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix on low speed for several minutes. Meat mixture should be mixed very well.

Using a teaspoon, spoon some meat mixture into your hand, and make a well using your thumb. Insert a garlic clove and wrap mixture around it to form a ball. After all the turkey is formed into balls, heat a frying pan to medium heat and add oil. Add several meatballs and fry them in the pan, using a spatula to roll the meatballs for even cooking. Meatballs are done when the centers are no longer pink (165º).

  
Golden Focaccia
Thank you:  King Arthur Flour

Starter:

4 ounces cool water

1/16 teaspoon instant or active dry yeast

4 1/4 ounces Unbleached All-purpose Flour

Dough:

2 teaspoons instant yeast or 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast 

4 ounces lukewarm water*

all of the starter (above)

8 1/2 ounces Unbleached All-purpose Flour

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

3/8 ounce nonfat dry milk

7/8 ounce olive oil

*Use 1 tablespoon less in summer (or in a humid environment), 1 tablespoon more in winter (or in a dry climate).

Topping:

1) To make the starter: Mix the water and 1/16 teaspoon yeast, then add the flour, stirring till the flour is incorporated. The starter will be paste-like; it won't form a ball.

2) Cover and let rest at room temperature for about 14 hours; the starter will be bubbly. If you make this in the late afternoon, it'll be ready to go by the next morning.

3) To make the dough: If you're using active dry yeast, dissolve it with a pinch of sugar in 2 tablespoons of the lukewarm water. Let the yeast and water sit at room temperature for 15 minutes, until the mixture has bubbled and expanded. If you're using instant yeast, you can skip this step.

4) Combine the dissolved yeast (or instant yeast) with the remaining dough ingredients, and mix and knead—by hand, mixer, or bread machine set on the dough cycle—to make a soft, smooth dough. If you're kneading in a stand mixer, it should take about 7 minutes at second speed.

5) Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 1 hour.

6) Gently deflate it, and allow it to rise for another hour; it should have doubled in bulk from its original volume.

7) Lightly grease an 18" x 13" baking sheet with a rim (or two 9" x 13" pans) with non-stick vegetable oil spray. Drizzle olive oil atop the spray; the spray keeps the bread from sticking, while the olive oil gives the bottom crust great crunch and flavor.

8) If you're using the baking sheet, gently pull and shape the dough into a rough rectangle, and pat it into the pan. As soon as it begins to fight you and shrink back, stop patting. If you're using two 9" x 13" pans, divide the dough in half, shape each half into a rough rectangle, and pat one piece into each pan. When the pieces start to shrink back, stop patting. Wait 15 minutes; pat the dough farther towards the edges of the pan(s). Repeat once more, if necessary, till the dough is close to covering the bottom of the pan(s).

9) Cover the pan, and allow the dough to rise till it's very puffy, almost billowy. This will take about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. Toward the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 425°F.

10) Gently dimple the dough at irregular intervals with your fingers, pressing down firmly, but not abruptly; you don't want to deflate it too much.

11) Spritz heavily with warm water, and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil (or enough to collect a bit in the dimples), then sprinkle with rosemary (or the herb of your choice), black pepper, and a bit of coarse salt, to taste.

12) Bake the focaccia for about 10 minutes. Reverse the pan(s) in the oven (top pan on the bottom, bottom pan on the top), and bake until the focaccia is light golden brown, about another 10 minutes. Remove it from the oven, and immediately turn it out of the pan onto a rack to cool. Carrot Salad with Harissa, Feta, and Mint Thank you: SmittenKitchen.com The carrots are grated, the spices are heated with a pinch of sugar in olive oil, whisked with lemon juice and poured warm over the carrots, with minced mint and parsley — think North African pesto. You let the flavors muddle for a bit and then you add feta. This salad is fascinating. Ingredients: 3/4 pound carrots, peeled, trimmed and coarsely grated 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 crushed clove of garlic 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds or about half as much, ground (I used seeds but ground them first) 3/4 teaspoon cumin seeds or about half as much, ground (I used the seed but ground them first, again) 1/2 teaspoon paprika 3/4 teaspoon harissa (for a solid kick of heat; adjust yours to taste, and to the heat level of your harissa) 1/2 teaspoon sugar 3 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, finely chopped 2 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped 100 grams feta, crumbled or chopped into bits In a small sauté pan, cook the garlic, caraway, cumin, paprika, harissa and sugar in the oil until fragrant, about one to two minutes. Remove from heat and add the lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Pour over the carrots and mix. Add the herbs and mix. Leave to infuse for an hour and add the feta before eating. With a fork.  Note: I liked letting my salad sit for most of the day to soften up the carrots that we bought from the store, because we thought the carrots we grated didn't have enough thickness or texture. (Harissa: Is a North African chile paste that has become so popular, we were tickled to find it all over tables in Paris two years ago, right next to the Dijon mustard. There is almost nothing it doesn’t make more delicious: eggs, potatoes, stews, couscous, sandwiches and more, and there are almost as many recipes as there are people who consume it. Most boil down to hot chiles ground with garlic, cumin, coriander, caraway and olive oil, often with a smidge of sundried tomatoes. You can make your own (I’ve been eying this recipe for some time) or you can buy some (I brought home this brand, which we love). The adavantage of making your own, as always, is that you can adjust the recipe to suit your tastes and desired level of heat.)  PS - I found my "harissa" at the farmer's market from a Greek man and it was called Aywar.  It was perfect.

Roasted Pork Loin with Orange-Herb Sauce
Thank you: pipandebby.com

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
One 1 ½-pound boneless pork loin
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup fresh orange juice
½ cup chicken stock
½ cup dry white wine
5 black peppercorns
1 rosemary sprig
1 oregano sprig
1 parsley sprig, plus 2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of the oil with the garlic. Add the pork, turn to coat and let stand for 1 hour. Set a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium ovenproof skillet, heat the remaining oil. Season the pork with salt and pepper and add to the skillet, fat side down. Cook over moderately high heat until richly browned, 4 minutes. Brown the pork on the remaining sides, then turn it fat side up. Add the orange juice, stock, wine, peppercorns and herb sprigs and bring to a boil.
2. Transfer the skillet to the upper shelf of the oven and roast the pork for about 35 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 145 degrees F. Transfer the pork to a carving board.
3. Strain the cooking liquid into a saucepan and boil until reduced to ½ cup, 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; stir in the chopped parsley. Carve the pork and serve with the sauce.

NOTE:  The sauce should be at least doubled.  The reduction will take you a little longer but it is worth the wait.

Couscous with Toasted Pine Nuts
Thank you: Ina Garten

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 2 cups chopped yellow onion (2 onions)
• 3 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups couscous
• 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
• 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley

Preparation

If you can boil a pot of water, you can make couscous. To make my life easy when I'm entertaining, I sauté the onions, add the stock, salt, and pepper and set it aside. Before dinner, all I have to do is heat the stock, add the couscous, and wait ten minutes for a delicious side dish with no stress.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the onion and cook over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned. Add the chicken stock, salt, and pepper and bring to a full boil. Stir in the couscous, turn off the heat, cover, and allow to steam for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork, stir in the pine nuts and parsley, and serve hot.
To toast pine nuts, place them in a dry sauté pan and cook over low heat for 10 minutes, tossing often, until lightly browned.

Serving Size: Serves 6 to 8

Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Thank you: Whole Foods Market

Ingredients:

1 pound Brussels Sprouts
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste (we used sea salt)
2 Tablespoons shaved Pecorino Romano Cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Trim the stem ends of the Brussels Sprouts and pull of any yellow outer leaves.  Halve each sprout lengthwise, then toss in a large bowl with oil, salt and pepper.

Transfer sprouts to a rimmed baking sheet and roast, stirring once or twice, until deep golden brown, crisp outside and tender inside, 30 - 35 minutes.  The leaves that are loose will be especially brown and crispy.  Transfer sprouts to a serving bowl, scatter Pecorino Romano over the top and serve.

NOTE:  These were especially hard to keep warm before plating.  I feel like there were left in about 5 minutes too long.

Triple Raspberry Sauce

Thank you: Ina Garten

Ingredients:



1 half-pint package fresh raspberries

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup water

1 cup (12 ounces) seedless raspberry jam

1 tablespoon Framboise liqueur (we didn't use this, so in reality it was only Double Raspberry Sauce)

Directions:

Place the package of raspberries, the granulated sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a small Saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 4 minutes. Pour the cooked raspberries, the jam, and Framboise into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until smooth. Chill.

NOTE:  If I hadn't been eating this with all of you I would have used my finger to get every remnant of the lemon filling and raspberry sauce off of my plate.

Cream Puffs

Thank you: Bon Appetit

Ingredients:

1 cup whole milk

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, diced

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup all purpose flour

4 tablespoons large eggs

2 large egg yolks

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Bring milk, butter, and salt to boil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until butter melts. Add flour all at once. Reduce heat to medium and stir with wooden spoon until dough forms ball and some batter films bottom of pan thickly, about 4 minutes. Transfer dough to medium bowl and cool 5 minutes. Using electric mixer, beat in eggs and yolks 1 at a time.

Drop dough by generous tablespoonfuls 3 inches apart onto baking sheets, making about 24 puffs. Smooth tops with wet fingertips.

Bake puffs 15 minutes. Reverse sheets and bake puffs until deep golden, about 10 minutes longer. Make small slit in side of each puff. Return to oven, turn off heat, and let dry 15 minutes. DO AHEAD Can be made 6 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.

Ingredients

lemon-cream filling

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
• Pinch of salt
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
• 1 cup chilled heavy whipping cream

Preparation

• Combine sugar, egg, lemon juice, lemon peel, and pinch of salt in heavy small saucepan; whisk to blend. Add butter. Stir constantly over medium-low heat until curd is hot and thick enough to coat spoon (do not boil), 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer lemon curd to small bowl. Press plastic wrap onto surface; chill until cold and slightly firm, at least 2 hours. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.
• Transfer lemon curd to medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat cream in another medium bowl until peaks form. Fold whipped cream into curd in 3 additions. Cover and chill filling 1 hour. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 hours ahead. Keep chilled.

Drizzle with white chocolate and place a malt ball or similar candy in middle to represent an egg in a nest (optional).



oil and vinegar...

 we are so lucky to live in a place where you can find a farmer's market almost everyday of the week in the surrounding areas. suzy turned me on to the Calabasas famer's market this last saturday. i went with my sister after our jog along the beach and it did NOT disappoint. i am always looking for fresh flowers for the house and this had a great selection. i came home with some gorgeous peach tree branches. but the find of all finds... gourmet blends oil and vinegar. we were in deep, tasting all the different mixes of balsamic vinegar and oil on a little spoon or dipped in bread. although it was a tough choice we eventually narrowed our selection down to six, two Traditional Balsamic, Meyer Lemon olive oil, Raspberry Balsamic, Rosemary Olive Oil, Basil Olive Oil and we were dying for about 4 others but we restrained ourselves. run don't walk. so yummy. the man that works there is hilarious and fun. also a great way to control what you are eating on your salad. clean and simple.
i have also heard nothing but great things about the olive vineyard in agoura hills. complete with kids play corner so you can taste:)

whole grains...

so emily and i hosted the very first "healthy gourmet club" at my home last thursday.  there was a lot of pressure and a lot of trial and error. unfortunately not everything i had in mind was recognized but lets focus on our successes. k? k.

here we go

we started our night with this menu:

 

the flowers

my schedule to keep me on track

bruschetta with peppers, capers and gargonzola

i had every intention of making this with a homemade, 12 grain baguette but ran out of time and bought crostinis...not a good idea, they were dry and didn't absorb the flavors of the peppers like when i made them in the past.

spinach salad with barley and oranges

emily made this and it was delicious. for an entree it is fantastic with salmon but seeing as we served it as a salad to showcase a grain you may not think to use regularly, we opted out of using the protein. emily felt like an addition of dried cranberries would have been nice. it did need a tart twist. we both found that we would have like more vibrancy in the orange vinaigrette. another night of the week i made this with whole grain Israeli couscous and it was delicious.

mushroom dill soup with barley

(this was from my sister in law)

7 Tablespoons butter

2 cups chopped maui onion

3/4 lb. mushrooms (i used crimini and baby bella but you can use whatever you like)

1 Tablespoons fresh dill

4 cups chicken broth

1 Tablespoon soy sauce

3 Tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon paprika

1 cup milk (recipe calls for 2% and up but i used 1% and it was great)

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1/2 cup sour cream (i didn't add this at all because i don't like sour cream but i also didn't think it needed it (or the extra calories) and nobody complained.)

instructions:

sautee onion in 4 Tablespoons of butter and brown with salt and pepper

add mushrooms, dill, chicken broth and soy sauce and boil for 15 minutes

add the remaining butter, flour, paprika and milk. boil to thicken.

add lemon juice and sour cream

whole grain pizza crust

i have made this crust a million times, adjusting the all purpose flour to a whole grain white flour. i love this exact recipe with the arugula salad on top but my hus does not so i usually make it with bbq chicken and scallions or fresh tomatoes and basil or with a crispy proscuitto.

the key to this fabulous pizza is the mix of 3 cheeses and the herb oil you dust the crust with and drizzle over the top.

maple chipotle bbq sauce (from everyday food magazine)

Makes 1 1/4 cup

1 cup ketchup

1/4 maple syrup

1/4 dark brown sugar

2 Tablespoons dijon mustard

2 to 3 teaspoons adobo sauce (without chipotles- i left the adobo sauce out completely because i didn't think it complimented the rest of the meal)

instructions:

in a small saucepan, whisk together ketchup, maple syrup, brown sugar, mustard, and adobo sauce. simmer, whisking occassionally, until the sauce is reduced to 1 1/4 cup, about 10 to 15 minutes.

roasted fennel and tomato (from March 2011 food network magazine pg. 80)

in an attempt to lighten our whole grain themed night i added a simple yet delicious tomato and fennel side. i loved trying fennel in a new to me way.

2 fennel bulbs

1 garlic bulb

1 lemon

3 Tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 pint grape tomatoes

Core and thinly slice fennel bulbs; chop some of the fronds,

peel the cloves from garlic bulb and toss with the fennel and fronds, 1 quartered lemon, olive oil and salt and sugar on a baking sheet.

Roast in a 500 degree oven until golden, about 20 minutes. ( i found this was a little too long, so keep your eye on it so the fennel doesn't go limp). Toss in 1 pint grape tomatoes; roast until the tomatoes burst, about 7 more minutes.

dessert- after making 4 different desserts, trying healthy approaches, trying unhealthy approaches tried and true recipes and new kind  i was failing miserably. i realized that my usually stellar dessert skills were not in the cards this week, how disappointing... but i did end up with a fantastic recipe that with a little more practice i know will be a favorite of mine.

i made one for the chocolate lovers and one for the fruit lovers.

brownie pudding

there is not much "gourmet" about this. it is simple. rich. very rich.

French Pear Tart with Almond Paste

so as i said i was down to the wire with my desserts. i have never worked with almond paste before but it really is what makes this recipe. when they say "spread" the almond paste, it wont spread. i heated it but it didn't liquify at all, it just got hot. hmmm. i am anxious to do some research and figure out the best way to work with the paste. i hear rolling it out with a rolling pin is a good idea. i will have to try it. i also opted to not do the discs. i baked as one big pastry and cut with a pizza cutter. the discs are probably more eye pleasing though.

1 sheet puff pastry ( i felt like i was cheating not making this from scratch, but i haven't a clue how to do it)

6 teaspoons almond paste

6 bartlett or au jour pears, peeled, cored and cut in half

3 teaspoons sugar

3 teaspoons unsalted butter

caramel sauce

vanilla ice cream

Roll out dough to get smooth and slightly larger.  Cut six circles of dough, approx 5 inches across.

Spread 1 teaspoon of almond paste on each disc, leaving a 1/4 inch border.

Fan thinly sliced pears on top of each pastry disc.  Sprinkle with sugar and 1/2 teaspoon butter. put on baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes.

serve with vanilla ice cream and drizzle with caramel sauce.

had i had the time i would have loved to try a homemade fleur de sol caramel sauce but i didn't, so the Trader Joes kind is fantastic substitute.

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

divine.