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Category Archives: Main Course

Spicy Bacon Mac and Cheese

Posted on October 2, 2010 by amydeline

I’ve never met a macaroni and cheese I didn’t love. My heart swoons over every possible incarnation of pasta and cheese. I love it homemade or frozen. I like it creamy or baked with an egg. I’ll even eat the kind whose cheese comes in powdered form, even though the ingredient list makes me cringe. And during my teaching days, I ordered school lunch mac and cheese almost every single day. That was some good mac and cheese! If I were to be stranded on a desert island and had to pick just one food to eat until rescued, I’d be hard-pressed not to select mac and cheese, even though my logic tells me that would be a poor choice. Macaroni and cheese makes my heart sing with joy.

The chilly turn of the weather has me bypassing light crisp salads in favor of hot, filling dishes, such as my beloved macaroni and cheese. The fun thing about macaroni and cheese is that you can get really creative with customizing your favorite blends of cheese. It’s hard to go wrong. Start with a base of milk, thickened into a sauce with a roux of flour and butter, then have fun throwing in your favorite cheeses or whatever you’ve got leftover in the fridge. There are endless mouth-watering combinations. My favorite versions usually involve melty and delicious brie. But for tonight’s rendition, I was looking for a little spice. So, I threw in some Pepperjack cheese in combination with creamy cream cheese and flavorful sharp cheddar. For a little added flavor and crunch, I added some crumbled bacon. Bacon makes everything better!

Have fun with this recipe. Follow it as written, or substitute with equal quantities of your favorite cheeses. Take it as a basic mac and cheese recipe, and get creative from there!

Spicy Bacon Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp Butter
  • 3 Tbsp Flour
  • 2 cups Milk (skim would be fine)
  • 4 ounces Cream Cheese (1/2 bar)
  • 4 ounces Pepperjack Cheese (5 slices)
  • 4 ounces Shredded Sharp Cheddar (1 cup)
  • 1/2 tsp Salt (plus more, if desired)
  • 1/2 pound Bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 pound Pasta, cooked

Directions

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Strain and set aside. In a saucepan, combine butter and flour over medium heat. Cook for a couple minutes, until it forms a thin paste-like consistency. Add the milk and whisk to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for a few minutes until the milk thickens. Turn the heat down to low and add the cheese. Stir until the cheese has melted into the sauce. Season with salt. Stir in the crumbled bacon. Pour the hot sauce over the cooked pasta and toss until evenly coated. Serve immediately. Garnish with a few pieces of crumbled bacon and a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese.

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Beef Stroganoff

Posted on September 29, 2010 by amydeline

My husband is a recovering picky eater. When we first met almost fifteen years ago, there was a lengthy list of things he wouldn’t eat. I nearly ended the relationship on the spot when I discovered he didn’t like bacon. Doesn’t like bacon??? Clearly, this was a cause for alarm. But, I stuck around. And as our relationship developed I learned more about his lifelong history as a picky eater. I giggled when his mom shared stories of ordering cheeseburger happy meals, sans the burger on the cheeseburger. I questioned his ability to eat a turkey sandwich with swiss cheese and mustard on whole wheat every single day, without exception. And I puzzled over the quantity of Sunny D he consumed. What in the world is Sunny D, anyway??

As a person who thrives on cooking and eating a wide variety of foods, I was flummoxed by his limited diet and long list of food biases. Thankfully, since the time we met fifteen years ago, he has greatly expanded his food repertoire. Not only does he eat bacon, he loves it. Burgers delight him. And he now eats a tuna sandwich for lunch every day instead of turkey and drinks real orange juice, made from real oranges. He still won’t eat Chinese food, or anything whose name or flavor profile slightly resembles Chinese food. And I’ve repeatedly failed to get him to appreciate duck. But, for the most part, he eats whatever I place in front of him. For that, I am thankful.

But during our early days, cooking for my picky mate was a bit more challenging. He had not yet grown to trust my cooking ability and I was not fully clear on what he would or wouldn’t eat. So, imagine my delight when I discovered that one of his favorite meals was Beef Stroganoff. That just so happened to be one of my very favorite meals. I was happy to make it for him. There are endless versions of this classic recipe floating around. My version is my memory’s adaptation of the recipe my mom used to make for our family. I’m not sure how it compares to my husband’s childhood memory of Beef Stroganoff, but he’s never complained. No matter how you make it, it’s hard to go wrong with tender bites of beef in a creamy sauce over buttered egg noodles. Perfect comfort food deliciousness.

Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients

  • 1.5 pounds Beef (Flank Steak, Sirloin, Bottom Round, Chuck Roast, etc.)
  • 5-6 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 small Onion, chopped
  • 2 cups Mushrooms, sliced
  • 1/2 cup Flour
  • 1 1/2 cups Beef Stock
  • 2 Tbsp Worchestershire Sauce
  • 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
  • 3/4 cup Sour Cream
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 1 bag Wide Egg Noodles, cooked according to package directions
  • Butter, for noodles

Directions

To prepare the meat, cut the beef into small slices or chunks. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the flour over the meat and toss so that each piece is evenly coated in flour. Set aside.

Heat a tablespoon or two of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and mushrooms. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, until the mushrooms and onions are tender. Remove the mushrooms and onions from the pan and set aside.

Add a few more tablespoons of oil to the pan, over medium heat. Add the beef in a single layer. Cook for a few minutes on each side, until the beef is browned and almost completely cooked through. (It will finish cooking as it simmers in the sauce.)

Add the beef stock to the pan and use a wooden spoon or whisk to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the liquid to a simmer. Return the mushroom and onions to the pan and simmer for a few minutes. The sauce should begin to thicken.

Add the worchestershire sauce and mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Turn down the heat to low and add the sour cream. Stir until evenly combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.

Serve over hot, buttered egg noodles.

Serves 4

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Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp

Posted on September 28, 2010 by amydeline

Recently, my sister had the good fortune of taking a trip to Hawaii. As you might imagine, we’re all insanely jealous. During our conversations about the Hawaii trip, someone mentioned a food truck on the north shore of Oahu, which sells the most delectable garlic shrimp. It didn’t take too much cajoling to convince me to investigate further.

Now, in my dream world, I’d hop on the next available Hawaii-bound airplane, with my sights set on shrimp. I’d comb that island until I discovered the mysterious shrimp truck and then I’d force myself to eat as many orders of that shrimp as necessary until I’d discerned the magical recipe. And well, if I had to drink a few fruit-garnished, tropical beverages during my travels, I guess I’d do that too. All in the name of commitment to a cause. But, considering I live in the real world, bound by time and financial constraints, I limited my research to the internet.

Identifying the shrimp truck was easy. Giovanni’s Aloha Shrimp is served out of a white, graffiti-covered truck on the north shore of Oahu. They offer three options; Hot and Spicy, Lemon and Butter, or Shrimp Scampi. It’s the shrimp scampi recipe we’re after. So, I did a bit more searching around and actually found a video, which walks through a garlic shrimp recipe, based on the famous Hawaiian shrimp trucks.

Hawaiian Sea Salt, a gift from my sis

After watching the video, I rescheduled my whole day around making these shrimp. I even dragged the kids out in the pouring rain to get down to the grocery store for fresh shrimp, which they enjoyed for the exciting opportunity to wear rain boots. The result was well worth it; tender shrimp oozing with garlicky flavor and dripping in butter sauce. In Hawaii, they serve a pile of 12 jumbo shrimp with a mound of sticky rice. I added a side of steamed broccoli to complete the meal.

For authentic Hawaiian style, use the biggest shrimp you can get your hands on. To serve it up shrimp-truck style, devein the shrimp, but leave the shells on. This makes for a messy meal, so be prepared with extra napkins. In the future, I’d probably remove the shells before cooking, so more of the garlic sauce ends up in my mouth rather than on my fingers.

Hawaiian-Style Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients

  • 1 pound large shrimp, shell on, deveined
  • 3/4 cup clarified butter*
  • 1 head garlic, peeled and chopped
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1-2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 lemon, cut into slices or wedges

*Clarified Butter is recommended, since it has a higher smoke point than regular butter. This will help to prevent the butter and garlic from burning as it cooks. For my easy photo guide to clarifying butter, click here. Two sticks of butter will produce just the right amount of clarified butter for this recipe.

Directions

Check that the shrimp have been deveined. Combine the flour, paprika, and cayenne pepper in a dish. Toss the shrimp in the flour mixture to coat. (There will be flour leftover.) Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the clarified butter and garlic. Cook for a minute or two, then add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook for 3-4 minutes on one side, then turn the shrimp and cook for 3-4 minutes on the other side. Add the white wine and salt. Cook for a minute or two. Squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice over the shrimp. Serve with a side of white rice and a lemon wedge.

Serves 2

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Mission Fiesta

Posted on September 24, 2010 by amydeline

Tomorrow afternoon we will celebrate my little one’s second birthday. Where in the world did two years go?? It seems like only yesterday that I was waddling around, anxiously awaiting his birth. And now he’s this tiny little man. So utterly perfect.

I really love throwing birthday parties. There’s a good possibility that I actually enjoy throwing the party more than the kids enjoy celebrating the party. And with a little bit of thoughtful planning, I find it to be a relatively stress-free and enjoyable experience. In my opinion, a stress-free party is all about planning a menu which can be mostly prepared the day before and requires minimal fuss on the day off. I like dishes served cold or at room temperature or trays of food which can be reheated in the oven, while still maintaining their fresh taste and appearance. I avoid things like burgers, which need to be cooked in batches during the party and usually result in people standing around waiting for the platter to be refilled. I think burgers are great for barbecues, but for birthday parties, I like all the food to find its way to the table at the same time. Just my personal preference.

I also like to vary our party menus so that there’s always something new for our guests to enjoy. I’ve also got a few party standards, which I make again and again, like the Dinosaur Bar B Que Macaroni Salad. For this little fiesta, I’ll be serving an assortment of sandwiches and salads. Hopefully there will be a little something to delight everyone’s tastebuds.

Sandwich and Salad Party Menu

Sandwiches

Waldorf Chicken Salad on Pain de Campagne

Egg Salad on Marble Rye

Honey-Roasted Turkey Breast with Lorraine Swiss, Thinly Sliced Pears and Honey-Mustard on Mutligrain Baguette

PB&J on White

Roast Beef, Cheddar, and Apple with Horseradish Sauce on Onion Rolls

Prosciutto and Figs with Gorgonzola Cream on French Baguette

Fresh Mozzarella and Roasted Red Tomatoes with Basil Pesto on Ciabatta

Salads

Dinosaur Bar B Que Macaroni Salad

Greek Couscous Salad

Ambrosia Salad

Napa Cabbage  Salad

Today’s mission was simple. Prepare as much of the food as possible.

I started with the Ambrosia Salad. Ambrosia is a childhood favorite of mine. Seriously, it’s hard to disappoint kids with a salad whose main ingredient is marshmallows. My Aunt Theresa is the queen of ambrosia, so I use her recipe, which couldn’t be simpler. There are no set measurements and it’s almost impossible to mess up. Simply mix a bag of mini marshmallows with a can or two of strained mandarin oranges and a can or two of strained pineapple tidbits. Then mix in about 1/2 cup of sour cream. If desired, throw in a cup of shredded coconut. Stir and refrigerate. Make a few hours or a day ahead of time. If desired, garnish with marashino cherries.

Next, I got to work on the Greek Couscous Salad, another simple and delicious side salad. Simply cook some couscous according to package directions. Allow it to cool for a few minutes. Then, I made a greek vinaigrette using lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, a bit of greek seasoning, salt and pepper. Toss the couscous in the dressing. Throw in some crumbled feta cheese, chopped kalamata olives, marinated artichoke hearts, and sun-dried tomatoes.

The macaroni salad is one of my recurring regulars. I use the Dinosaur Bar B Que recipe, found in their cookbook. As I’ve mentioned before, I have a bit of an aversion to mayonnaise. So, I tend to avoid salads dripping in mayo. The Dinosaur recipe is hands-down my favorite macaroni salad, since it incorporates a good amount of creole mustard into the dressing, which cuts the mayo consistency. The flavor is fantastic! The salad starts with a pound of small pasta shells. Throw in some chopped celery, tomatoes, and green peppers. For the dressing, combine a cup of mayo (Hellmans, of course) with 1/4 cup of Creole Mustard. (I tend to add a bit more mustard). Add a teaspoon of brown sugar, 4 cloves of minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss the dressing with the pasta and veggies, then refrigerate to cool.

My egg salad recipe couldn’t be simpler. Hard boil some eggs. Cool the eggs under cold running water. Remove the shells and cut the eggs in half. Remove the yolks and place in a bowl. Use a fork to crush the yolks. Combine with enough mayonnaise and mustard until creamy. Season with salt and pepper. Chop the egg whites and add to the bowl. Slice a few green onions and add. Stir until well mixed.

I prepared my recipe for Waldorf Chicken Salad, which you can find here and my Basil Pesto recipe, which you can find here. To keep things simple tomorrow, I also sliced the mozzarella and the figs and prepared the honey-mustard sauce, horseradish sauce, and gorgonzola cream for the sandwiches.

For dessert, I baked my little guy a giant cupcake, using my favorite chocolate cake recipe, found here. I decorated the top with a dumptruck and candy rocks, per his request.


I made a double batch of the cake batter, so that I could bake some cupcakes. But, I way overfilled the cupcake pan, which caused the cakes to overflow. They began to fall apart when I tried to remove them from the pan. They were not in any condition for frosting. So, rather than waste the perfectly tasty cakes, I made Muddy Cups; a perfect addition to the Construction theme we’ve got going on. I stuffed the slightly mangled cupcakes into the bottom of small plastic cups. Then I covered them with a scoop of chocolate pudding and sprinkled them with crushed Oreos and candy rocks.

I’ll also be serving a Caramel Apple Cake and Peanut Butter and Jelly Baklava. Those recipes will follow at a later date.


It was a productive day and we’re in good shape for tomorrow’s party. All that remains for tomorrow is composing the actual sandwiches, baking the Caramel Apple Cake, and decorating, of course! Should be a fun, stress-free, and tasty party!

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Honey-Balsamic Salmon over Gingered Sweet Potato and Apple Hash

Posted on September 16, 2010 by amydeline

I must be dreaming about fall lately. Perhaps it’s the cool evening breeze coming through the barely opened windows, just enough to adjust the temperature in the room to perfect down-comforter weather. Whatever it may be, I’ve been waking up with fully formed fall dishes on my mind. Well, almost fully formed. The details take a moment to come to me, almost in the way you have to strain to put together the pieces of a dream.

Most recently, I awoke thinking of honey-glazed salmon. Yes, that sounds good. With pureed sweet potatoes. Correction; pureed gingered sweet potatoes. Wait, that’s still not right. It should be a sweet potato hash with apple. Yes, that’s it… Honey-Glazed Salmon with Gingered Sweet Potato and Apple Hash. I didn’t decide to add the balsamic until I actually got cooking. And it was a wise addition, indeed.

There’s not much else to say about this dish. It’s simple, delicious, and perfectly fall-icious.

Honey-Balsamic Salmon over Gingered Sweet Potato and Apple Hash

Ingredients

For the Salmon

  • 4 4oz. Salmon Fillets
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 1/8 cup Honey
  • 1/8 cup Balsamic Vinegar

For the Hash

  • 2 Sweet Potatoes
  • 1 Apple
  • 2-3 tsp Fresh Ginger, grated
  • 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 3 Tbsp Butter
  • Salt and Pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the salmon fillets in a baking dish and season with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine the honey and vinegar. Stir until well combined. Pour the mixture over the salmon fillets. Place the baking dish in the oven. Cook for 15-20 minutes, until cooked through. Periodically spoon some of the honey-balsamic mixture over the fillets as they cook.

For the hash, peel the potatoes and apple. Use a box grater to shred the potatoes and apple. Combine with the grated ginger. Toss with a bit of lemon juice to prevent the apples from browning. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sweet potato mixture and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring and flipping often to prevent burning. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.

To serve, place a mound of the sweet potato-apple hash in the center of the plate. Place a cooked salmon fillet on top. Drizzle with a bit of the honey-balsamic sauce from the baking dish. Garnish with sliced green onions.

Serves 4


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Eggplant Parmigiana

Posted on September 15, 2010 by amydeline

Winter comes on fast here in Syracuse. It seems like one week you’re sweating in 90 degrees weather at the fair and the next week you’re rummaging through the house trying to figure out where you stashed your scarf when winter finally ended in June. It’s a long, cold, snowy winter ’round here, predominated by gloomy, gray skies and frostbitten noses.

But, there’s a short period of time between the summer and winter, where the sun is still shining, but the air carries just a touch of chill; sweater weather. The leaves turn a beautiful rainbow of rusty reds, burnt oranges, and golden yellows. Apples are ripe for picking. It’s perfectly autumn.

And though I don’t particularly care for the long periods of Syracuse winter gloom, I feel a buzz of excitement on the day I wake up to that perfectly autumn weather. To me, the first cool day in September is shouting one thing, loud and clear… Welcome to Comfort Food Season!

Comfort food season. It’s the time for spending a little longer in the kitchen. Time for heating up the oven and letting the warm aromas permeate the house. Time for hot, cheesy dishes, casseroles, and slow-cooked meats with roasted potatoes. Time for forgiving stretchy pants and bulky sweaters. Comfort food season makes this Gourmand Mom a very happy girl.

So, in honor of comfort food season, I’m making one of my childhood comfort food favorites. You see, I’m Irish, Scottish, and Armenian by heritage, but a good part of my family is Italian. I was raised on Italian food. There may not be a drop of Italian blood in me, but there’s the heart of an Italian cook hiding in there. And, as far as I’m concerned, when it comes to comfort food, it doesn’t get much better than Eggplant Parmigiana. Breaded and fried eggplant, layered with cheese and tomato sauce, then baked until perfectly hot and delicious.

My recipe is based on the recipe I was raised with. The secret comes from the combination of three different cheeses between each layer of eggplant; parmigiano-reggiano, mozzarella, and ricotta. The ricotta’s the real key, if you ask me. You can use any kind of tomato sauce in the dish. Homemade marinara or a high-quality store-bought sauce would be fine. I’m using a jar of Bertolli’s spicy Arrabbiata Sauce, which I received in the welcome gift bag over the weekend.

My process for making eggplant parmigiana begins with salting the eggplants. If you’re using freshly picked or baby eggplants, you can probably skip this step. For larger eggplants, which have been off the plant for a few days, salting serves a dual purpose. The salt draws out the bitter liquids which can accumulate in older eggplants, leaving you with a better flavor. Also, as a result of removing some of the liquid, you’ll have a firmer eggplant which will absorb less oil during the frying process.

The entire process of composing the eggplant parmigiana is a little time-consuming, but not complicated. The great part is that is can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated or frozen until you’re ready to eat. If baking from refrigerated or frozen, be sure to add some additional cooking time to ensure that the dish gets thoroughly heated through.

Eggplant Parmigiana

Ingredients*

  • 2 medium/large Eggplants, sliced into approximately 1/3″ slices
  • Salt
  • 1 cup Flour
  • 3 Eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 cups Bread Crumbs
  • 1/2 cup Olive Oil
  • 2 cups Tomato Sauce
  • 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese, shredded
  • 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
  • 2 cups Ricotta Cheese

* All measurements are approximate. Adjust according to the size of your eggplants and your preferences.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Arrange the eggplant slices on a baking sheet. Generously sprinkle the slices with salt. Allow the salted eggplant to rest for 15-20 minutes. You will begin to see droplets of liquid forming on the eggplant. Rinse the eggplant slices and pat dry.

Then, set up a dish of flour, bowl of the beaten eggs, and a dish of bread crumbs. Press both sides of each slice into the flour, dip in the beaten eggs, then press into the bread crumbs to thoroughly coat. Repeat this process with all eggplant slices.

Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Places slices of eggplant in a single layer in the pan. Cook for about two minutes, then flip and cook on the other side for two minutes. Both sides should be a golden brown. Place the slices on layers of paper towels to drain. Continue this process, adding more oil as necessary, until all of the eggplant has been cooked. If the bread crumbs remaining  in the pan between batches begin to burn, wipe out the pan and replace with fresh oil before beginning the next batch.

Pour a small amount of sauce in the bottom of a baking dish. To compose the eggplant parmigiana, spread a spoonful of ricotta onto a slice of eggplant. Place the slice on top of the sauce in the baking dish. Sprinkle with parmigiano-reggiano and mozzarella. Then drizzle a small spoonful of tomato sauce on top. Repeat with additional eggplant, cheese, and sauce to create layered towers of eggplant, cheese, and sauce, each without about four eggplant slices. After placing the final slice of eggplant on the tower, top with sauce, then parmigiano-reggiano and a generous amount of mozzarella.

Bake for about 30-35 minutes. For a firmer cheese crust, leave the baking dish uncovered. For a meltier, gooey cheese topping, cover the baking dish with foil for the first 25 minutes or so.

Serve over spaghetti with extra sauce and cheese.


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Surf and Turf – Anniversary Style

Posted on September 10, 2010 by amydeline

Five years ago, on a sunny early-September afternoon, I married my best friend. And what a beautiful five years it has been. As I sit here reflecting on the past five years, I am eternally thankful for all we have. Love, trust, respect, humor, empathy. We are acutely aware of how fortunate we are.

Photograph courtesy of Tamela Kemp Photography ~ http://www.tamelakemp.com

After a long dating relationship, begun during our college days, we decided to formally tie the knot, which we’d informally tied long before. We carefully crafted all of the details of our wedding to represent our tastes and the result was a memorable wedding day, which our friends and family continue to remark on.

Photograph courtesy of Tamela Kemp Photography ~ http://www.tamelakemp.com

We married at the Thomas Birkby House in Leesburg, Virginia; a lovely property, circa 1770. We said our vows in front of the carriage house, where 130 or so of our closest friends and family had gathered. The bridesmaids wore warm autumn brown and carried rust colored Leonides roses. I carried a bouquet of ivory roses with moss green hydrangeas.

Photograph courtesy of Tamela Kemp Photography ~ http://www.tamelakemp.com

Immediately following the ceremony, our guests enjoyed a cocktail hour in the courtyard to the sounds of a harpist. Hors d’oeuvres were passed and guests mingled while enjoying the assortment of wines and specialty beers we’d hand-selected.

Passed Hors d’oeuvres Menu

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with Tangy Cocktail Sauce

Little Washington Tartlette ~ Melange of Virginia Country Ham, D’Anjou Pear, Baby
Arugula and Parmigiano-Reggiano,

Dried Figs with Gorgonzola garnished with a Poached Cranberry

Smoked Salmon on Sweet Potato and Apple Pancakes

Crispy Tomato Toast with Fresh Mozzarella and Basil

Photograph courtesy of Tamela Kemp Photography ~ http://www.tamelakemp.com

Following the cocktail hour,we moved into a large white tent with a ceiling of soft, gathered fabric and a brass chandelier, where the pièce de résistance of our wedding awaited; the food. Of all the details we’d carefully planned, the food was our highest priority. Well, at the very least, it was my highest priority. And when it came down to planning the meal for our wedding, our plan was certain. Skip the traditional multi-course dinner in exchange for a wider assortment of unique, carefully-crafted, decadent hors d’ouevres; arranged on tables scattered throughout the tent. Casual but elegant. Enough food to fill everyone’s bellies, all in bite-sized portions. My favorite way to dine.

Stationary Hors d’oeuvres Menu

Domestic and Imported Cheeses

Savory Cheese Torte with Sun-Dried Tomato

Creamy Brie with Apricot Preserves

Saga Bleu Polenta Rounds with Beef Tenderloin

Smoked Duck on Pecan Crackers with Red Currant Chutney

Bouchees with Brie, Chutney, and Almonds

Miniature Maryland Crab Cakes on a Bed of Creole Slaw with Red Remoulade Sauce

Sate Station – Grilled Beef, Chicken, and Pork with Hot Mustard, Indonesian Barbecue and Peanut Sauces

Scallop Tostada – Seared Sea Scallop on a Salpicon of Lump Crabmeat and Sweet Yello Corn with Poblano Pepper Aioli

Baby Vegetable Crudite with Yellow Pepper Thyme and Black Olive Feta Dips

Butternut Squash Bisque with California Fruit Chutney and Crunchy Cheese Straws

The surprise standout of the menu was the bisque, which we added to the menu at the last minute after enjoying an amuse bouche of pumpkin bisque at a local restaurant sometime during the months preceding our wedding.

Photograph courtesy of Tamela Kemp Photography ~ http://www.tamelakemp.com

We used a wonderful Washington DC area caterer, Ridgewells, who made our vision become reality. Ridgewells is well known in the DC area and they more than fulfilled our expectations. They even worked with us to design custom hors d’ouevres, including a special Little Washington Tartlette, based on one of the courses we enjoyed at The Inn at Little Washington on the evening we got engaged.

Photograph courtesy of Tamela Kemp Photography ~ http://www.tamelakemp.com

Oh, and the cake! The cake, the cake, the cake! Honestly, while planning the our wedding, the cake was not incredibly high on my list of priorities. I had an idea for the design and, of course, I wanted it to taste good, but I felt no need to run around to various bakeries looking for the perfect wedding cake. We’d tasted a few of the cake selections which Ridgewells offered and it was enough for us to feel comfortable having them provide the cake. We requested a Rich Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Mousse and Raspberry Filling. I remember the moment the first bite of that cake entered my mouth. It was a complete surprise. I had expected wedding cake. Know what I mean? Doesn’t it seem like wedding cake always tastes like wedding cake? Well, not this wedding cake. I was floored by how rich and moist and utterly delicious our cake was. Seriously the best wedding cake I’ve ever tasted.

Photograph courtesy of Tamela Kemp Photography ~ http://www.tamelakemp.com

In honor of our 5th anniversary, I decided to prepare two of the items from our wedding menu, entrée style. An anniversary surf and turf duo of Beef Tenderloin on Sage Blue Polenta garnished with Julienned Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Jumbo Lump Crab Cake on a bed of Spicy Creole Slaw.

I seasoned the tenderloins with salt and pepper and seared them in a hot pan with a bit of olive oil. Then, I placed them several inches under the broiler and cooked in the oven until they reached our desired doneness. After allowing the beef to rest for a few minutes, I sliced the steak, which I served over warm polenta. To the polenta, I added some Saga bleu cheese. Any other bleu cheese would be delicious as well. I garnished the steak with thin slices of sun-dried tomatoes.

For the crabcakes, I used my recipe for broiled jump lump crab cakes, which you can find here. I served the crab cakes on a bed of creole slaw, which added the perfect amount of crunch and spice to the dish. Leftover crabcakes and slaw make to-die-for sandwiches the next day.

Creole Slaw

Ingredients

  • 6 cups Cole Salw Mix (Shredded Cabbage and Carrots)
  • 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
  • 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1/2 Tbsp Worchestershire Sauce
  • 1 Tbsp Creole Mustard
  • 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 1 tsp Garlic, minced
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Salt

Directions

Combine the mayo, vinegar, worchestershire, mustard, brown sugar, garlic, cayenne and salt. Taste and adjust seasoning, if desired. Toss with the cole slaw mix. Make several hours or a day ahead if possible.

Photograph courtesy of Tamela Kemp Photography ~ http://www.tamelakemp.com

Later this morning, we take off to New York City for our 3-night getaway, courtesy of Bertolli. Tonight we’ll be attending a welcome dinner at Aureole, which is certain to be a treat! We’ll have a chance to meet the winners of the other categories and the Bertolli team. Tomorrow evening we’ll get dolled up to attend the Zac Posen show, followed by the afterparty, where my winning Braised Lamb Shanks will be served in passed hors d’oeuvres form. Should be a very exciting weekend! Stay tuned for more details.

In totally unrelated news, my little man started nursery school yesterday. Unbelievable.

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Almost Perfect Fontina Chops

Posted on September 8, 2010 by amydeline

A few years ago, in search of child-friendly dining option, we found ourselves in a Bonefish Grill. Prior to this visit, my only knowledge of Bonefish Grill was through one of our family members, who spoke with great passion about the Filet Mignon with Gorgonzola Butter he’d eaten there. At the time, he’d claimed it was the best meal he’d ever eaten. Based on his description of the meal, I made the silly mistake of trying to cook this idolized meal for him. We went over to our local Whole Foods to buy the finest, freshest ingredients. I meticulously crafted the meal as described. Then we all sat down to enjoy the meal together.

Well, my Filet Mignon with Gorgonzola dinner came out fantastic, truly fantastic. Everyone was fully pleased, except perhaps, the family member I’d cooked it for. His critique was that it was almost perfect. I’d accepted the praise and thanked him. I’ll take an almost perfect review. But, my husband wasn’t about to let his comment go. What do you mean almost?? He pressed. What should have been improved? Our family member then tried to argue that it couldn’t possibly be as perfect as in a restaurant because I didn’t have access to restaurant stuff. We giggled and let it go, but we still joke with him today about his almost perfect comment. All in good fun and with love.

So, when I found myself sitting in front of the Bonefish Grill menu, there was part of me that was very strongly leaning towards ordering the Filet Mignon with Gorgonzola Butter, so that I could dissect the dish and discover the errors of my almost perfect recreation. And then I spotted the Fontina Chop; a pork chop with Marsala sauce, prosciutto, garlic, and fontina cheese. Just reading the description had me salivating. I almost always order steak or seafood in restaurants, so a pork dish was a departure for me. But it sounded so irresistible. And it was. It was probably the best rendition of a pork chops and gravy dish I’ve ever eaten. If you ever find yourself in a Bonefish Grill, I highly recommend this dish.

Notice the absence of Fontina cheese; the result of cooking and photographing with two little people and a dog at my heels. My cheese was added post-pictures.

It was years ago, but the flavor combination in that dish stuck with me. So, I decided to have a go at recreating another Bonefish Grill dish. My advantage, this time, is that I’ve actually seen and eaten the sought after dish. My disadvantage is that it was so long ago that my memory will be fairly worthless in terms of comparing the actual taste match between the dishes. Regardless of differences between Bonefish’s dish and mine, I have to admit that this recipe is delicious…almost perfect.

Fontina Chops

Inspired by Bonefish Grill

Ingredients

For the Pork Chops

  • 2 Boneless Pork Chops
  • 1 Egg, lightly beaten
  • 3/4 cup Bread Crumbs
  • 2-3 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 1/2 cup Fontina Cheese, shredded

For the Sauce

  • 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 3-4 slices Prosciutto, chopped
  • 2 cups Baby Bella Mushrooms, Sliced
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic, minced
  • 3/4 cup Marsala Wine
  • 1 can (15 ounces) Chicken Broth
  • 1 Tbsp Cornstarch
  • Salt and Pepper

Directions

For the pork chops:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Trim any excess fat from the chops. Season with salt and pepper. Dip the chops into the beaten egg, then press all sides in the bread crumbs until thoroughly coated. Heat the olive oil in an oven-proof pan. Place the breaded chops in the pan and cook for a minute or two on each side until golden brown. Place the pan in the oven and cook until the pork chops are fully cooked. Time will vary depending on the thickness of the chops. My 1″ pork chops took about 15 minutes in the oven. A instant read thermometer inserted into the center should read 165 degrees.

(**Edited to Add: The USDA has recently reduced its recommended safe temperature for pork to 145 degrees. Based on this new recommendation, you can probably cut the cooking time to about 12 minutes in the oven, but cooking time will vary based on the thickness of your chops. An instant-read meat thermometer is your best friend in determining doneness!**)

For the sauce:

Prepare the sauce while the chops are cooking. Heat olive oil in a pan. Add the mushrooms and prosciutto. Cook for 8-9 minutes, until the mushrooms are tender and lightly browned. Add the garlic. Cook for another minute or two. Then removed the cooked mushrooms, prosciutto, and garlic and set aside. Add the marsala to the hot pan. Bring to a simmer and cook until the liquid has reduced to about 1/4 cup. Add the chicken broth. Return to a simmer and cook until a little more than 1 cup of liquid remains. Place the cornstarch in a small bowl. Spoon a few tablespoons of the hot liquid into the cornstarch and stir until combined. (Dissolving the cornstarch in a small amount of liquid before adding to the sauce will help to prevent lumps from forming.) Then, add the cornstarch mixture to the pan and simmer for another minute or two to thicken. Return the mushroom mixture to the pan and simmer for a minute to reheat.

To serve:

As soon as the pork chops come out of the oven, sprinkle the fontina cheese on top. Allow the pork chops to rest and the cheese to melt for a couple minutes. Then spoon the sauce over the chops and serve. Smashed Red Potatoes and Steamed Asparagus make wonderful side dishes!

Serves 2

Hubby's dish, cheese properly applied.

Since writing this recipe, it has come to my attention that the Bonefish fontina chops are not breaded. I stand by my breaded chops in this recipe, as it is hands-down my favorite way to prepare pork chops. But, if you’re looking for a more similar recreation to Bonefish’s dish, you may wish to skip the breading steps and simply season your chops with salt and peppers and sear in a pan before finishing in the oven. Enjoy!

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Chorizo and Potato Frittata

Posted on September 7, 2010 by amydeline

During a recent episode of Man v. Food, host Adam Richman visited the city of Syracuse, the city I call home. Though, admittedly, I don’t regularly watch Man v. Food, I recorded this episode, since I’d heard there would be a segment featuring one of my favorite places, Dinosaur BBQ. And there was. But the segment which really caught my attention featured a place I haven’t been to, called Mother’s Cupboard, home of the six pound frittata. You heard me right. Six. Pound. Frittata.

Now this frittata is not like any frittata I’ve ever seen. If I had to guess, I’d say that about 5.95 pounds of it is composed of the fillings; sausage, peppers, onions, pepperoni, and a full pound of potatoes. The entire pile of food is bound together with 4 scrambled eggs and served with 4 ends of Italian bread. Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE to eat and I have a very healthy appetite, but watching Adam Richman eat that entire mass of food turned my stomach just a bit. The small percentage of diners who do manage to eat the entire meal, as Mr. Richman did, get a T-shirt and their picture on the wall. I don’t think I’ll be attempting the challenge anytime soon, but it was sure fun to watch.

I like frittatas quite a bit and don’t make them nearly enough. Frittatas are an egg dish, similar to an omelet, filled with any combination of ingredients and typically finished in an oven. Once you’ve got the idea, the possibilities are infinite. They make a great breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They’re also perfect for using up leftover vegetables, cheese, or meat.

For my frittata, I made use of some chorizo I’ve been storing and a few potatoes I purchased for another meal. The potatoes get cooked with the chorizo and a bit of chopped onion. As the chorizo cooks, it releases its tasty flavor to coat the potatoes. Once the potatoes are tender, the egg mixture gets poured over the fillings, cooked for a few minutes on the stovetop (try not to burn the bottom like I did), then placed in the oven to finish. A bit of melty Fontina cheese adds the finishing touch.

Chorizo and Potato Frittata

Ingredients

  • 4 Baby Red Potatoes, sliced thin
  • 1/2 small Onion, diced
  • 1/3 cup Spanish Chorizo, chopped
  • 6 Eggs
  • 1/3 cup Milk
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Fresh Parsley
  • 1/3 cup Fontina Cheese, shredded

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray an oven-proof skillet with cooking spray. Heat the pan over medium heat. Add the chorizo, potatoes, and onion. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the potatoes are tender. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Season with salt, pepper, and fresh parsley. Once the potatoes are tender, pour the egg mixture into the pan. Cook for a couple minutes until the eggs appear cooked around the edges. Sprinkle the fontina cheese over the egg mixture and place the pan in the oven.  Cook for 10-15 minutes until the eggs are completely cooked through. The top will appear golden brown and the center should look a bit puffy.

Serves 4

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Goat Cheese Manicotti with Creamy Wild Mushroom Sauce

Posted on September 6, 2010 by amydeline

I’ve got mushrooms on the brain and they’re growing like a fungus. Perhaps it’s the approach of fall and the sudden drop in temperature around here. Can’t seem to think of a thing to make which doesn’t somehow involve mushrooms, which is quite unfortunate for my anti-mushroom husband. But my most recent mushroom creation even managed to delight my mushroom avoiding husband.

The idea began after staring at the log of goat cheese, which has been sitting in my fridge, leftover from our last wine and cheese night. If you’ve been reading for the past few weeks, y’all know how I feel about goat cheese. You’ve seen the salads covered with goat cheese and pizza of goat cheese, figs and prosciutto. It occurred to me that the leftover goat cheese would be lovely in a ravioli, but for lack of a pasta maker, I abandoned that idea. But the pasta idea was not a total loss. Manicotti or large pasta shells would make perfect vessels for my precious goat cheese. I decided on using manicotti.

I blended the goat cheese with ricotta cheese and a touch of mozzarella, then bound the cheeses together with a lightly beaten egg and piped the mixture into the cooked manicotti pasta. After baking the filled pasta until fully cooked, the cheesy pasta is topped with a creamy mushroom sauce, accented with garlic and Italian cheese flavors. The result is a super satisfying meal, perfect for the rapidly approaching fall weather.

Goat Cheese Manicotti with Creamy Wild Mushroom Sauce

Ingredients

For the Pasta:

  • 1 8 ounce package of Manicotti (14 pieces)
  • 3 cups Ricotta Cheese
  • 8 ounces Goat Cheese, crumbled
  • 1 cup Mozzarella
  • Leaves from 3-4 sprigs Parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • Pepper
  • 1 Egg, lightly beaten

For the Sauce:

  • 2 Tbsp Butter
  • 4 cups Wild Mushrooms, chopped (Shitake, Cremini, Oyster, etc.)
  • 1 tsp Minced Garlic
  • 2 cups Light Cream
  • 1/2 cup Italian Cheese Blend (Asiago, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Fontina…)
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • Black Pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray.

Boil the manicotti according to package directions. Rinse with cool water.

In a bowl, combine the ricotta, goat cheese, mozzarella, parsley, salt, and pepper. Before adding the egg, taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper, if desired. Then, add the beaten egg and stir to combine.

Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a wide tip and pipe the mixture into the cooked pasta. Alternately, use a spoon to fill the pasta. Place each filled manicotti into the prepared baking dish.

Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 30-35 minutes until completely cooked through.

Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. Heat butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook for 5-7 minutes, until tender. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or two. Pour the cream over the mushrooms and stir to combine. Cook for a few minutes until the cream begins to bubble and thicken. Add the cheese and season with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning, if desired.

Pour the mushroom cream sauce over the pasta before serving.

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