Seared Grouper w/Field Greens and Orange

I went by my fish monger and saw some nice big and fresh Grouper, so I had him fillet us a beauty. I pan seared it with a garlic, butter and Parmesan baste. Placed it on a Salad of Field Greens, Spinach, Thin Slices of Red Onion and Mandarin Orange Sections topped with a dressing of OJ, Wine Vinegar, Olive Oil and Dijon Mustard. A side of Pearled Pasta finished this one off!

Pre-Thanksgiving Feast

We host the night before Thanksgiving, when the whole family can get together. Brothers and Sisters, Aunts and Uncles, Nieces and Nephews and even a few of the 4 legged members. The big meal is tomorrow so this gathering is casual with the focus on conversation, wine, and easy to eat delicacies. Our menu this year was designed with fingers in mind. It featured Grilled Wingettes w/Roasted Garlic, Lemon and Herb Pesto, Seared Shrimp w/warm Mango Salsa, Tenderloin Kabobs, Marinated Mushrooms, Asparagus in a Cranberry-Poppy Seed Vinaigrette, Crab & Avocado Salad in Phyllo Cups, Asian Flavored Green Bean Bundles, Prosciutto-Linguine and Fontina Mini-Frittatas, Roasted Mini Peppers w/Wild Rice, Chevre', & Cranberries, Green Olive & Eggplant Tapinade,Goat Cheese Brushetta. Desserts stayed with the finger food theme starring Mini Cherry Cheesecakes, Mindy's Mandel Bread and Chocolate Dipped Fresh Fruit.

Indian Summer

The 70 degree temperatures and hours of leaf raking brought on a healthy appetite so we fired up the grill grill and barbecued a bucket of chicken parts, baked some sweet potatoes and coupled that with a French Green Salad, topped with Chere', julienned pickled beets, diced heart of palm, and marinated hare coverts and artichoke hearts and a crusty Sour Dough. A perfect ending to an Autumn day that felt like summer.

Itailian Wedding Soup

Sunday football lends itself to a long stretch in the kitchen. With rain in the forecast it was a perfect day for a big pot of Homemade Italian Wedding Soup. This is the traditional recipe, made with Chicken Stock, diced tomatoes, fresh spinach, tiny pasta pearls an of course freshly rolled and oven seared Italian Sausage Meatballs. The house smelled great as the Ravens beat the Broncos and the soup was enjoyed for days!

Chicken Cordon Bleu w/ Brussel Sprout Hash

Having a few slices of leftover capacola from our Italian Panini we did for the Raven's game Sunday, I decided to use a thin chicken fillet, the ham and Gouda to make a quick version of Chicken Cordon Bleu. I rolled the three just like you would a jelly roll, and glazed it with a Raspberry Pan Sauce. Served with a Brussels Sprout Hash consisting of, you guessed, brussels sprouts that I love getting on the stalk, along with multicolored potatoes and pearl onions, seared and steamed with fresh thyme and raspberry vinegrette.

Cajun Pork Chops

Here's a good one from Chef Paul Prudholm. We met him at his cookbook signing and have always had his Cajun Pork Chops as a favorite. A very thin loin chop, dusted with his Magic seasoning and flour, quick seared and drizzled with a Tabasco/Garlic Butter. If you like it HOT this is the one for you!! Sides included Rice Pilaf and Baby Spinach. We started this one off with a Mojito, probably the last of the mint out of our garden...

T-Bone Ceaser's Salad

And here's what we did with the leftover T-Bone we picked up the other day. We use a recipe from an old Gourmet (circa 1977) magazine which was past down from Mom to Daughter and now to Grand Daughter for an amazing Ceaser's Salad. Just a Cracked Wheat Sour Dough for a scrumcious meal.

Just a Sandwich?!?

After class last night, we decided on a sandwich, but not just a simple sandwich, a Jerry built Club. I had rotisseried a whole chicken the night before and sliced off some of the breast meat, seared a few slices of bacon, some fresh tomatoes, lettuce and layered it on a fresh toasted sour dough bread (just 2 slices). Simple and delicious!

T-Bones

Was at my meat cutter's shop and he had some really great looking T-Bones on sale. Who could resist? Picked up a few, enough for us at dinner and an extra for one of my favorites, a Steak Ceaser Salad (but that's another post). Doesn't it figure it started raining as I was on my way home to start grilling. Not to be out done, I put a dining canopy over the grill area of the deck and fired the B-B-Chef up. And it was pouring (should've taken pictures of my tenting!), but got them done to a delightful medium rare. Served with roasted fingerling's and grilled asparagus.

Comfort Food at it's Best

What can possibly be the the best comfort food? A delicious Meatloaf, of course!! I found this recipe by Tyler Florence a few years ago, and it is without a doubt the best meatloaf out there. It uses a red pepper relish, but I had a basket full of assorted sweet peppers so I used them instead. Served, of course with sweet peas and mashers. It just doesn't get any better than this!!

Sure are glad we had some company to share this one with. She stole the recipe.

Garlic-Herbed Grilled Chicken

Wanted some Bar-B-Qued Chicken, but not the red sauced kind today. So, we came up with a Pesto Style Dressing for tonight. Roasted a few heads of garlic, added some fresh thyme, lemon juice, lots of parsley (am sure going to miss the garden), and a good olive oil. Grilled a few heads of Romain, then tossed the chicken parts on the hot fire, basting after every turn and placed on top of the lettuce, dressing the salad and chicken with the remaining dressing. A side of Couscous finished this one off.

Asian Glazed Salmon

Fish for dinner tonight!! Thought I'd use one of the most popular Salmon. A mixture of soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, hoisin sauce, ginger, pepper flakes and lime juice simmered into a wonderful Asian style glaze. Grilled the fish over a hot grill, basting along the way. Placed the hot fillet over a mound of Baby Spinach with the remainder of the sauce and served it with sticky rice.

Ravens vs Browns

For the Ravens/Browns game we opt for your not-so-typical tailgate munchies. Balsamic Marinated Double Dipped Fried Chicken (whew, say that 3 times real fast). This was a new twist for and old favorite I found and add a new dimension to your basic fried chicken. We saw somewhere on TV Fried Brussels Sprouts, so as long as we had the oil hot and Sprouts in the fridge we decided to try them out as well. Worked out marvelously, just put the sprouts in very hot oil until crispy, drained them well tossed in some grape tomatoes and a balsamic vinaigrette, even the Sprout haters ate them! A luscious Macaroni salad finished off a well played game.

Paprikash

One of Dave's favs...Paprikash. Chicken thighs seasoned with lots of sweet paprika then seared, mixed with lots of chopped onions and tomatoes and more paprika. Simmered for about a half hour, spilled over tagliatelle. What a delicious and hearty dinner, served with hare coverts.

The Familys Favorites

It's supposed to rain for the next week, so we opted to grill a steak last night. I went down to my butcher for a nice bone-in Sirloin. Gave it a rubbing of assorted peppers, brown sugar, and assorted spices, tossed it onto a hot fire and there you have it...a delightfully crusted steak served with oven browned potatoes and a salad of asparagus, brussel sprouts and mushrooms marinated in a lemon/cumin dressing spilled over arugula, hearts of palm and garden fresh tomatoes.

Football Sunday

Some basic snacks snacks for a Sunday afternoon game. Chips with salsa, onion dip, cheese (con caso) and some store bought hummus. Hit of the day was grilled chicken salad on sour dough.

Frittata

Just something quick and easy this morning, a mushroom, onion and white cheddar frittata, with a few fresh fruits and some broccoli rabe.

Rosh Hashana

The Jewish new year is a great time at our home. We had almost 20 people this year, and if you weren't there you not only missed Wendy's chopped liver (which is only made for the holidays), gefilte fish, a most delicious brisket and of course all of the go-withs including a Caprese salad made from tomatoes gown in Marilyn's garden. We had a few birthdays as well, Brenda, Alan, Lissadell, and Erin's all fell on this Rosh Hashana eve. Alan's was a major event so his choice of cake was taken into consideration but, who doesn't like a Devil's Food Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache filling all covered in a Milk Chocolate Frosting.

I apologize for lack of pictures, after I took the appetizers I got caught up with the festivities and put the camera down. There were some taken so as soon as I get my copies, I'll post them

Chili-Lime Grouper w/Corn Cakes & Spinach

Had a very special old friend and her new baby back in the neighborhood. Seeing as how she's not a huge meat eater we opted for a seafood favorite of ours; Grouper, this time chili and lime flavored. Marinated the fillet in a paste of lime juice, chipolte pepper, garlic and olive oil, then broiled it as the rain prevented grilling. Finished it with a lime/jalapeno/shallot butter along with sauteed baby spinach. Seems the hit of dinner were my Silver Queen Corn Cakes which I make with local grown Silver Queen corn, cornmeal, flour,baking powder, eggs, onion and touch of honey.

Italian Night

Had a taste the other day for Spaghetti and meatballs. Started with the basic mix of ground beef, lamb and pork, added some home grown herbs, panko couple of eggs and a few veggies. Rounded them up an into a hot oven for a delicious topping to our cappilleni all smothered in a garlic marinara sauce. Put sliced local grown golden heirloom tomato on top of field greens for the perfect side.

Salsa Verde w/ Clams over Linguine

Thinking about dinner last night and was asked to use Clams, Linguine and Salsa Verde. I came up with a Green Sauce (translation for salsa verde), using tomatillos, jalapeno pepper, pine nuts, lime juice and from our garden parsley and cilantro blended together with olive oil. I steamed the Clams in a fish stock, added some chopped clams to the sauce and poured it over the linguine. To go with I made an arugula and field green salad with marinated mushrooms and heart of palm. To sop all the remaining juices a sour dough garlic/cheese loaf.

On the way home Sunday, we decided pizza would be a good idea, but not just any pizza, Grilled Pizza. So, we stopped by our local pizzaria (who we know pretty well!), to get some of their fresh pizza dough. We always make extra sauce when preparing pasta, so I pulled a container out of the freezer, checked the produce bin for an assortment of peppers and onions, a few links of sausage, and some fresh Mozzarella and Fontina cheeses.
Grilled the veggies and sausage, shredded the cheese, and rolled out the dough into individual pies. Tossed the dough on the grill to get them half baked, turned 'em over, put the sauce and toppings on, mixed up a chopped salad, and here we have it!! Fun and delicious and low cost.

Braised Scallops with Risoto

While shopping the other day Wendy noticed some mighty fine looking Sea Scallops in the case. Needless to say she picked up a few for Sunday's Dinner. Along with the scallops she got some thick cut bacon. We decided on a Mushroom/Asparagus Risotto to go along side. Prepped all veggies for the risotto and started the 40 minute process of constant stirring, while making a seasoning blend for the bacon. We used brown sugar, curry, and cayenne pepper, pressed the bacon in the mixture and wrapped a slice around each scallop, then quick seared them to perfection.

Syd's Birthday Favorites

Sydney has turned 25, so we went out to Ohio to spend her special day with her. The plans were to go out to a favorite restaurant to celebrate, but the day got away from us and we decided to make a party of cooking her favorite foods. Greek style lamb chops with taziki sauce, Mediterranean green beans, and roasted potato wedges. And, not to forget strawberry margaritas from their margarita machine.

Beef Ribs

Found some good looking beef ribs at the meat counter the other day and it was really nice out, so we decided to the traditional finger-lickin' cook-out food. A dry rub on the ribs and on to the hot coals until they were barely done, finished them off with an apple/honey glaze. Some home made mac and cheese (recipe courtesy of Alton Brown), and sauteed string beans for a wonderful meal.

Lamb Chops

Monday we though we'd go for some grilled lamb chops, with oven browned potatoes, and cauliflower. Got lucky, had the grill ready to go when he sky's opened up and poured on us. Charcoal, being as resistant as it is didn't go out, and in between drops got the chops done, so we didn't have to heat up kitchen and enjoyed a delightful meal.

Just returned from a much needed vacation, so we're back to the kitchen for some home cooked meals. Sunday we picked through our garden an made a nice Caprese salad with our fresh peppery basil, tomatoes, and mozzarella, to go with a simple grilled hamburger.

My Birthday

Last night Wendy had my sisters and brother-in-laws over to celebrate my birthday. She did my favorite Caesar's salad (I won't eat one any where else!). Everyone got a Cornish Hen, rice pilaf, and ratatouille made with local grown produce (don't you love this season?). Of course who can top a peanut butter/chocolate iced cake that Brenda made.