August 29, 2016

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 29, 2016

I have been busy these last few days.  Monday I put up thirteen packages of free corn for the freezer.  Today I have a huge pot of Bolognese Sauce on the stove – I told Warner if he wished, he could bring home 35 friends tonight and I’d be OK.  This, too, goes into the freezer tomorrow. And I must say it smells wonderful – for all these hours it simmers on the stove.  I use the recipe from Marcella Hazan’s Classic Italian Cooking, Vol. 1.  Except that where she calls for ground beef I use a mixture of equal parts beef, veal and pork.

We are now a house hold of four.  On Sunday, Warner went out and picked up one of the eight cats he has been feeding. (Guy next door moved in May – putting 8 cats out on the street). She was pretty frightened Sun. evening, but seems to have settled in. She’s in the front room with her own food, water and litter and seems happy there.  The one time she ventured out Julia Child let her have it.  So much for territory.

Feeding the other seven has become more complex. At first it was just the blue jays that were after the kibble. Then the crows.  I was continually banging on my office window to scare them off.  Then along came Tom, a male wild turkey.

At first it was funny. He just poked around a bit.  Then he started nibbling.  We tried to explain that he might be eating his ex-wife, but he didn’t care.  Then he got territorial.  Scaring of the blue jays.  Then the crows.  And finally the cats.  We have moved the food and water to our back deck, but need to remember to bring them in at night fall ere the raccoons join us.  So much for the food chain.

wwj note: The Tom Turkey can climb stairs, he was on the back deck this AM. Stairs are blocked so the cats can get up but he can't.

Mon. AM    Costco Pizza

Mon. PM    Grilled Pork Chops with Peaches NYTG

                   Quinoa Salad with Black Beans and Mango

                   Green Beans with Tomatillo Salsa

Tues. AM   Pulled Pork on Kaiser Rolls

Tues. PM    Grilled Chicken Legs/Thighs with White BBQ Sauce BA 9/16

                   Spaghetti Salad MS/VB

Weds AM   Pizza revisited

Weds. PM   Capellini with Shrimp, Peppers and Genoa Salami MS/VB

                   Salad

                   Gail’s Chocolate Chip Cookies Epicurious 1999

Thurs. PM  Grilled Chicken Breast Stuffed with Ham, Sage & Blue

    Cheese GM 9/93

                   Nicoise Orzo Salad FW 7/99

Fri. AM      Corned Beef on a Kaiser Roll f/i

Fri. PM       Grilled Split Lobster with Melted Butter

                   Steamed Corn

                   Arugula Potato Salad revisited

Sat. AM      Roast Beef on a Roll with Horseradish Mayo f/i
                    Lobster Rolls with tomato mozzarella salad

       PM       London Broil with Horseradish Sour Cream Sauce FW 2/15

                   Arugula Yukon Gold Salad

                   Corn

Sun AM      Cheese Omelets

                   Tomato Cocktail

Sun. PM     Grilled Marinated Butterflied Leg of Lamb GM 5/06

Nicoise Orzo Salad revisited

Grilled Eggplant

Mon AM     Pasta with White Clam Sauce CCI

Mon. PM    Grilled Chicken Tacos with Peppers, Onions, Sour Cream,

                      Avocados and Monterey Jack

                   Corn           

See next menu

August 22, 2016

Life is too short to be bored by dinner…

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 22, 2016
Next weekend will be a big one for us.  Simona, my oldest Great Niece heads off to college and the family will be staying with us the night before “move in”.  Knowing that she will be subjected to “college” food for the next four years, I asked her what she’d like as her “last dinner”.  Fajitas – the answer.
This week I’ll do a big slow cooker pot of Pulled Pork.  Easy enough to do, and that is great stuff to have in the freezer year round. It is so helpful to have items like this in the freezer for instant meals when you’re tired or stressed or just don’t feel like cooking.
Other things I’ll be cooking up for the freezer or canner in the next few weeks will be tomato sauces (my French and Marella Hazan’s Bolognese). With these on hand we can do easy/fast pastas – spaghetti, lasagna, etc. We’ll also do a large batch of our answer to V-8’s tomato cocktail. We take advantage of our farms stands baskets of less than perfect tomatoes to do all this at very little cost…
  I’ll par boil a mess of ears of corn (2 minutes), dump them in ice water, cut off the kernels and freeze.  In addition to the obvious, I like to dump a half cup or so in my portion of the pancake batter. (Warner loathes corn pancakes, so I do his with fruit). You’ll never get better frozen corn during the winter. And we’ve put up I don’t know how many fresh berries so we’re both happy.
And Warner has put up about 60 pounds of various types of pickles, so we’re good on that front.  We are discussing having good friends over as the pickles are ready to eat for the Blessing of the Cured Cucumbers. A twenty first century concept of a harvest feast…


Mon. AM   Galette with  Tomatoes, Leeks and Blue Cheese revisited
Mon. PM Grilled Korean BBQ Beef NYTG
Eric Ripert’s Israeli Couscous Tabbouleh BA 7/15
Fresh Corn

Tues. AM Cold Cream of Cucumber Soup GM 8/04
Chicken cutlet, bacon, tomato & home made dill pickle sandwich

Tues. PM Chicken Parmesan revisited

Weds. AM Gazpacho Hamburgers
Weds. PM Sesame Orange Shrimp MS/VB
Steamed Rice

Sautéed Baby Spinach





Thurs.PM Chicken Curry f/i
Steamed Rice
Baby Peas
Fri. AM Cold Cucumber Soup Revisited
Fri. PM 12 Hour Slow Cooker Carolina Style Pork BBQ Sandwiches  
Epicurious 8/16
Cole Slaw
Corn
Sat. AM Gazpacho Revisited
Sat. PM SIMONA’S FAREWELL DINNER
Craig Claiborne’s Tartare of Salmon SFCB
Crispy Spiced Chickpeas VB
Quinoa, Black Bean and Mango Salad TBMR
Rick Bayless’ Green Bean Salad with  Red Onion and Tomatillo
Salsa EM
Steak Fajitas FW 2003
Chicken Fajitas BA 7/13
Avocados/Sautéed Onions/Sautéed Peppers/Sour Cream/Avocado/
Shredded Monterey Jack/Salsa
Steamed Fresh Corn
Goat Cheese Cake with Mixed Berries BA 6/13
Sun. AM Ham Zucchini and Gruyere Frittatas MS/VB
Bacon, Melon Slices
Sun. PM Emeril’s Lemon Rosemary Balsamic Grilled Chicken Thighs FNTV
Chopped Vegetable & Couscous Salad with Black Olive
Vinaigrette FCA 48

August 15,2016

We are starting to receive our September issues of my cooking magazines.  I am in no way ready for fall.  The local farm stand is bursting with produce and the tomatoes and corn are just hitting their strides.  In a week or two I will start on the tomato sauce(s) and juice.  I’ll also freeze a mess of corn (off the cob).  All awfully good when the weather is not so hot…
Warner, too, is preparing for the year.  At this point he either has or is in the process of turning over 50 pounds of kirbies into various pickles.  The Pickle Prince of Pomona…  He also has frozen a mess of local berries – so nice on waffles, etc.
So, no. I am not ready for fall.  I’ll know when it’s time when I start thinking of sauerbraten and spaetzli and the like.  But not a minute before.


MENU FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 15, 2016
Mon. AM Linguini with White Clam Sauce CCI

Mon. PM Grilled Spanish Style Chorizo KBobs with Shrimp MG 96
Steak Fahitas
Steamed Corn
Pasta Salad

Tues. AM Spanish Potato and Onion Frittata MS/VB
Gazpacho

Tues. PM Quick Paella with Sausage, Shrimp and Artichokes VB

Southwestern Chicken Salad in Taco Shells MS/VB

Weds. AM Tomato, Melted Leek and Blue Cheese Gallete FC 8/16 VB
Weds PM Southwestern Chicken Salad in Taco Shells MS/VB

Peanut Butter Cookies (for Dentist - above)

Thurs. PM Pacific Pork Tenderloin with Pineapple Rice MS/VB Tossed Salad

Fri. AM Cold Creamy Cucumber Soup GM 8/04      66
Fri. PM Chicken Cutlets with Peach and Arugula Salad MS/VB
Lemon Pasta EI

Sat. AM Cheese Burgers galette with leeks, cherry tomatoes and blue cheese

Sat. PM Chicken Parmesan MS/VB
Spaghetti with French Tomato Sauce
Salad

Sun. AM Cold Cucumber Soup RevisitedPacific Pork Tenderloin with Pineapple Rice  over lettuce with tomato

Sun. PM Grilled Korean BBQ Beef NYTG
Eric Ripert’s Israeli Couscous Tabbouleh BA 7/15
Steamed Corn

August 8, 2016

My husband tells me that our next cookbook (on order) will be number 1,000.  Shows what 36 years of insanity will do to a person.  These, along with 36 years of Bon Apetit, Food and Wine and Gourmet (sadly only until about 2010 – I still miss it)  All of this has assisted us in living our mantra “Life is Too Short to Be Bored By Dinner”.
 So much of this information is on line these days, one doesn’t need to be a rabid collector.  It really easy to come up with new ideas, new equipment and new techniques.  Television has helped here.  Particularly PBS.  Classic chefs.  Classic instruction.
My most relied on cookbook authors:  Julia Child, Craig Clairborne, Pierre Franey, Jacques Pepin, Madeline Kamann, Patricia Wells, Marchella Hazan.  For Warner, it begins with The Joy of Cooking and goes to Rhulman’s and Polcyn's Charcuterie and then his grilling and preserving libraries.
And, of course, we are always supervised and critiqued by our feline Julia Child.


MENU FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 8, 2016

Mon AM Julia Child’s Vichyssoise JC I

Mon. PM Memphis Style Baby Back Ribs BB

Potato Salad with Arugula Pesto
Tossed Salad
Tues. AM Challah French Toast with Berries
Tues. PM Grilled Buttermilk Chicken MS/VB
Modern Macaroni Salad BA 7/99 Lobster packs

Weds. AM Cheese Burgers Lobster rolls with Vichyssoise

Weds. PM Grilled Lime Shrimp GFQ
Warm Herbed Coriander Rice Salad GM 6/10
Grilled buttermilk chicken
Fresh Corn

Everyday Cocoa Cake GM 2/03

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream GM 7/00




Thurs. PM Lamb Curry f/i

Steamed Rice, Naan Salad
heat
Cold grilled buttermilk chicken
slaw
pasta salad

Fri. AM Vichyssoise revisited

Fri. PM Grilled Fillet Mignon with Brandy Mustard BA 6/12
Baked Zucchini with Parmesan, Salad
Sat. AM BLT’s
Sat. PM Spiedies Chicken, Salad, Corn

Sun. AM Gazpacho and potato, onion frittata

Sun PM Quick Paella with Shrimp and Homemade Chorizo, Artichoke
Hearts and Peas Epicurious/VB

August 1, 2016

We are so enjoying the fresh produce of the season.  Cantaloupes have been on sale, ergo a fabulous cantaloupe gazpacho, and cantaloupe salad with Genoa salami, a wonderful Cheesy cantaloupe pasta sauce.  Etc.
Warner just scored his first of the seasonal Kirby – and not a moment too soon.  Our pickle larder is down to zip.  Freezing lots of fresh berries (great for pain perdu in Feb….).  And the corn is finally rolling it.  Nothing like it!
We’ve been tempted by ice cream and it has occurred to me (Duh!!) that we’d be better off eating the ice cream I make.  So I’ll try to do one a week.  Starting with a fabulous blueberry ice cream with Grand Marnier.  Sinful.
I did a wonderful pizza last week with locally grown red onions and red and green bell peppers.  A feast for the eyes – and other parts of the body…..Looking forwards to the chicken salad with fresh peaches.  Delicious and healthy.

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 1, 2016

Mon AM Lobster Rolls

Mon. PM Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Grape and Mint Salsa
Bobby Flay’s Southwestern Potato Salad

Tues. AM Ham, Zucchini and Gruyere Frittata

Tue. PM Chicken Yakatori GM  5/05
Chin Mustardy Sesame Kirby
Chinese Noodles with Sesame Sauce MS/VB
Home Made Blueberry Ice Cream with Orange Zest and
  A Dash of Grand Marnier GM 7/90

 Weds. AM Corned Beef Sandwiches on Kaiser Rolls f/i  Yakatori and noodles

Snack Black Raspberry cake with blueberry ice cream, both home made.

Weds. MA White Bean Salad with Grilled Shrimp, Zucchini & Onions MG
Raspberry Ricotta Cake BA 3/15

Thurs AM we tend to go out for lunch. our view, Hudson River, upper Haverstraw Bay

Thurs. PM Spicy Orange Pork Kebabs GM 9/89
Herbed Brown Rice Salad with Tomato BA 8/82
Steamed Corn

Fri AM Blueberry Pancakes

Fri PM Steak Marema LCFTH
Spaghetti Salad MS/VB

Sat. AM Ham Steaks with Scrambled Eggs

Sat. PM Tuscan Chicken Cooked Under a Brick PB
Arugula Pesto Yukon Gold Salad GM 7/91

Corn

Sun. AM Turkey Sandwiches with Cranberry Sauce f/i Steak and salad



Sun. PM Roast Chicken Salad with Peaches, Goat Cheese & Pecans CL
Dinner Rolls