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.