RRC: Your Mother Should Know---The Round-Up

I am very fond of the Laura Rebecca's Retro Recipe Challenge. From the first time I heard about it, I knew this was my kind of event.

Unfortunately, I managed to miss most of them. Too much going on, not seeing the announcements...my list of 'whys' could go on a bit.

So when she sent out a request for hosts, I had one of those 'ah-ha' moments: if I were actually running the event, odds are I'd remember to make something for it!

I'm not entirely sure why I choose 'Your Mother Should Know' as the theme; I'd been listening more to Bif Naked than the Beatles. Perhaps it was that box of recipes from my Grammy, recently delivered by my parents, which inspired me. Old recipes, things our moms would have grown up on. (And by the look of my Grammy's collection, my mom grew up eating a lot of zucchini bread.)

And we certainly got some interesting entries this time! Recipes ranging from the middle of the 20th century to the 18th!

It's a good group of dishes, and you all came through. Let's see what was a hit before our mom's were born, OK?



Fruit Tart kicks things off for us with, appropriately enough, a fruit tart!
Looking to some sale finds, and channeling 1947, she took a recipe for Orange Filling and turned it into a Dreamsicle Tart. Just lovely!
Like Fruit Tart, I have a few old cookbooks with clippings and notes included, and you can't help but wonder about the lives of the women who first used them. And yeah, he probably didn't pay her back.






Becke's next, and she too turns to the 1940's for her dish. Something I've found while reading my countless 'old' cookbooks is there's almost nothing they didn't turn into a sandwich filling, although not all of them were what I'd call appetizing. Fortunately, Becke went with a Classic Club Sandwich, which is much more desirable than the boiled tongue offerings in most of my books!
And despite it's simplicity, I think a club sandwich is one of the finest combinations found in sandwich form. And yes, it's very retro!






Now it's Cakelaw turning back the clock, with a hearty stew from 1933. Like Cakelaw, I love reading the tips and instructions from these old books. i can't imagine a life where I have three or four pigs around, for curing. Or the parts of one of my books, telling you how to survive a dinner party if you only have one servant. Different days, for sure.
Her Exeter Stew left her a bit flummoxed, though; something I've discovered from these old books? You're expected to just KNOW what to do! Much is implied, which is probably where the vinegar plays in.
But, you're stew sounds perfect for a cold day.




One of the benefits of hosting blogging events is getting to meet new people. So, hi Johanna!
She gives us a very nice history lesson (something we love in our house) about ANZAC biscuits, and their origins.
I'd heard of them before I took to blogging, and learned a great deal more once I knew some Australian foodies, but I had no idea the name was protected!
And tying it all together, Johanna got her recipe for these 1920-s ANZAC biscuits from her mother!






Another new 'face', DebinHawaii brings some sun & sand, and some 1925 cooking, with here. Not only is she taking on the RRC challenge, but her own baking-phobia!
Despite that, she came through with a lovely, autumnal-colored Mystery Cake; the secret ingredient being...Campbell's Tomato Soup!? How wonderful. Why not? If cereal can be a cookie, why can't soup be a cake?





Marye had to reach back a bit earlier, as her mom was born prior to 1920. But Marye never shirks from a challenge, and she did a little research of her own, coming up with these fabulous Famous Salvation Army Doughboy Doughnut, from 1917! How fun. And fried dough is always a hit, isn't it?





Lidian, and her fittingly-named blog, are next, and she veers away from main dishes or baked goods, with a summery offering from 1911!
Her Blue berry Ice looks divine, doesn't it? Not what you think of from that time, but I'd gladly have some today!





Judy's up, and she not only takes us back a century, she goes presidential on us!
Looking back to 1887, Judy turns to her grandmother's time and presents us with Steamed Brown Bread.
Judy, my husband has a recipe from his grandmother listing among the ingredients a '15 cent bottle of olive oil'. So, I feel your pain!





Not to be outdone, Lysy took her love of food & history to heart, and nabbed a recipe from 1759!! If anyone was going to do it, I knew it would be you, Lysy!
So, to add to our recipes, enjoy a bowl of Pease Pudding; which, remarkably, is much more appealing than I'd expected!






Much to my surprise, I struggled with my own entry. My mom was born in the later-half of the 20th century, giving me slightly more modern options. Yet, nothing I looked at seemed 'right'. I have a shelf filled with cookbooks printed before I was born, before my mom was born. Booklets, pamphlets, from baking powder & rice companies, from the a group of doctor's wives, you name it. All wonderful in their own way, but somehow, not meeting my needs.

Finally, I gave up and picked up my 'baby', my pride and joy. The Victory Binding of the American Woman's Cook Book; the impetus of (neglected) Wartime Wednesdays.
A marvelous tome, originally published in 1938 and reprinted many times till my copy from 1943; my grandmother hadn't graduated from high school yet!
Close to 900 pages of meal planning, budgeting, cooking and entertaining tips, as well as recipes for just about anything you could imagine, and some you'd prefer not to (breaded calves brains, anyone?).

The books resembles fireworks in the sky, somewhat, with it's liberal application of multi-colored sticky tabs. So many recipes to choose from!

I started at the end, and worked my way through the Wartime offerings, a large section on entertaining (heading such as 'Buffet Service', 'The "Rumpus" Room', 'Outdoor' and 'Formal' Parties), things to cook at the table (Crab Rarebit), casseroles, beverages, French recipes, pastries, frozen desserts, and so on to meat and poultry, fish, sandwiches, breakfast, appetizers, and breads.

I was drawn to a couple of breakfast recipes, things to do with eggs I knew Matt would enjoy. But instead, I opted to make the Turkish Delight.




A simple, and somewhat cheater's house-wife recipe: water, sugar, gelatin, something to flavor it.

I substituted agar agar powder for the gelatin, making it accessible to both Alex & me, and orange & lemon rind and juice were listed for flavoring, with red and green food coloring. However, alternate flavorings were offered, and that's what I used.

Ok, it's possible they didn't have grapefruit & lime oils back then, but I loved the idea of multiple flavors.

I made grape, blueberry, raspberry, mint, orange, lime, lemon, and grapefruit. Basic food coloring.




Rolled in powdered sugar, they have a lovely flavor, with a texture not unlike the Chuckles candy, but softer.


Thanks to everyone who joined, and apologies for getting this up so late!






This month, Blog Party is having a Buffy Bash! The whole party devoted to everyone's favorite Slayer, with appetizers and drinks based on, or taken from, the show. So put on some season 3 DVD's and get those entries in before This Thursday, the 15th. Hope to see you there!




Tagged with: Food and Drink + Retro Recipe Challenge + Events + Blogging

Cookbook Review: Grilled Pizzas & Piadinas

The Buffalo Wing

Years ago, when I first heard of grilled pizzas, I remember telling Matt we really needed to do this. This was perfect for us.

Of course, we never actually got around to doing it. Perhaps a deep-seeded dislike of Bobby Flay prevented us from putting pizza on the grill, or perhaps it's simply because we just don't use the grill as often as we want to, despite moving it from the wild of the backyard to the side porch.

So when I got a copy of Craig W. Priebe and Dianne Jacob's Grilled Pizzas & Piadianas, I was was hopeful. A book dedicated to grilling pizzas! And as the book was published by DK, I had a feeling it would be good.


The Vesuvian

I wasn't wrong. The book is small yet packed with instructions, tips, recipes and pictures. I like a cookbook with photos, I admit, and this one didn't disappoint.



The book begins with careful and elaborate instructions on everything from using the book to grilling, a chapter devoted to the tools needed for successful pizza grilling (you can do it both indoors & out), the basic dough and the various sauces and oils used in the recipes.



There's a couple chapters for the grilled pizzas, one for the piadinas, another for salads, and even a section for dessert!


The Chicagoan

We made three of the pizzas recipes over the space of about a week. They were all amazing, hearty, deeply-filling & attractive. We also made one of the salads, serving it in a pizza crust bread bowl!



While I really enjoyed all the recipes, and have fairly littered the book with sticky tabs marking others we want to try, I will say this: it's not a book you'll turn to for a quick, week-night dinner.

The dough, which is quite good, requires several hours proofing, then at least another hour chilling in the refrigerator. And practically every recipe is made up of 'steps'; steps you really need to be aware of before attempting!

There are sauces, and oils, and marinating ingredients. All things that take time. But when you have the time, each step is worth the effort. It's the kind of thing you make when you have the entire day free. Or, as I mentioned to Matt after one massive cooking spree, it's the kind of thing you'd serve if you were having a group of friends over...everyone has a task, some making sauces or prepping ingredients, someone else in charge of the dough, and finally, the host manning the grill.


Antipasto Pasta Salad in Bakery Bowl

What I suppose I'm trying to say is this: it's a darn good book. It's filled with really wonderful ideas and recipes for grilled pizzas and pizza-like sandwiches. Lots of flavor and color, on a pizza, with the advantage of that lovely wood-smoke smell (a favorite of mine). But despite the base dish...pizza...it's not a casual cookbook. With exception of the salads, served in regular old bowls, very little in this book comes together quickly.

However, if you have the time and ingredients, the recipes in Grilled Pizzas & Piadinas are worth it.


The Buffalo Wing---spicy chicken with blue cheese & celery; grilled pizza crust is brushed with an herbed olive oil, dusted with grated Parmesan, the sprinkled with shredded mozzarella and cheddar; this is topped with spoonfuls of a very nice tomato-basil sauce and followed with sauted red onion, celery and red pepper; last, chicken strips which have been cooked and tossed with hot sauce are added, as well as crumbled blue cheese. Grill as instructed, sprinkle with thinly slices celery.

The Vesuvian---Italian chicken with potatoes, Asiago and olives; grilled pizza crust brushed with herbed olive oil, sprinkled with grated Parmesan, sprinkle with mozzarella, topped with diced red onion, tomato, black olives and crumbled Asiago, then roasted potato rounds and marinated & cooked chicken (in this case, Veat bites), drizzle with dressing from marinade; grill as instructed. (I opted to leave off the olives)

The Chicagoan---grilled pizza is brushed with herbed olive oil and sprinkled with grated Parmesan, sprinkle with shredded mozzarella and cheddar, top with tomato-basil sauce, roasted potato rounds, red onion, and grilled steak, grill as instructed, top with sour cream before serving.

The Antipasto Pasta Salad---prepare pizza dough, drape over well-oiled, non-reactive bowl, and bake. In advance, make sweet basil vinaigrette, toss cooked rotini, chopped Romaine, sliced red onions in the cooled bread bowls and toss with vinaigrette, add strips of salami, roasted red pepper, olives and tomato; top with Parmesan





This month, Blog Party is having a Buffy Bash! The whole party devoted to everyone's favorite Slayer, with appetizers and drinks based on, or taken from, the show. So put on some season 3 DVD's and get those entries in before Thursday, the 15th. Hope to see you there!





Tagged with: Food and Drink + Pizzas + Grilling + Reviews + Chicken + Sauces + Salad
+ DK Publishing + Potatoes + Cookbooks

Signs of an Early Summer

It's not actually summer yet, and thankfully the humidity hasn't taken over here in the South.

But it's been warm. Warm enough to bring out Alex's Snoopy Sno Cone machine!

Several nights a week, we turn the handle and transform ordinary ice cubes into frosty treats.

But this is our house, so no instant drink packages for flavor here. No, here? We top them with Torani syrups! So far, the chocolate & mint are a big favorite, although the pomegranate & watermelon combo are running a close second...





This month, Blog Party is having a Buffy Bash! The whole party devoted to everyone's favorite Slayer, with appetizers and drinks based on, or taken from, the show. So put on some season 3 DVD's and get those entries in before Thursday, the 15th. Hope to see you there!





Tagged with: Food and Drink + Torani

Daring Bakers Challenge: The Eternal, Internal, Struggle

I've come to the conclusion that my lateness in posting is due more to a psychological-induced resistance than my increasingly busy schedule (although that hasn't helped).

April's DB challenge was Frozen Cheesecake Pops.

That's a...problem.

See, there's very little in the world of sweets and baked goods that tempts me.

I can happily bake cookies, cakes, pies and rolls. Make candies and chocolates, and at best take a 'taste' to make sure it won't cause gastric issues.

But there's one thing, one heavenly, dastardly, come-hither item that gets me weak in the knees.

And that would be cheesecake.

I avoid cheesecake, as a rule. Because if it's around? I will eat it. Happily, gluttonously, consuming that cheesy goodness till it's gone. And were you around, you might just catch me scraping the platter for those last few bits...

I suppose I knew that when I made the cheesecake pops, I'd be faced with a rather large amount of finished product. And as I'm the only one in our home who eats cheesecake? Guess who would end up eating it all?

Putting it off as long as I could, intentionally or not, the end of the month suddenly showed up (not finding my calendar till about that time only made things worse). I decided to face this challenge...a literal challenge...head on.

So I made the cheesecake.

And oh, dear god. Was it good. No, no it wasn't good. It was delightful. I cursed the recipe and the challenge and everything associated with it, because it was GOOD. Had it been an 'eh' recipe, maybe I could have gotten through this. But no; it had to be fabulous.

So, I avoided the mess again. I put off the next step, which was scooping the cheesecake into balls, skewering them with sucker sticks, and freezing them till set.

But I eventually worked up the nerve to tackle this stage, as well. And with my deep freezer, I could leave them there for a few more days, while I worked up the nerve to finish them.

Unfortunately, I was left with 'excess' cheesecake. And I...confess. I faltered. I slipped. I gave in to temptation and darn it all: I ate it! A bowl-full here, or a few bites there.
And I tried really hard to feel guilty about it.

But finally, I buckled down and coated those pops with chocolate. And decided to pass them on to my in-laws. To rid myself of further temptation.

Of course, before I did that, I had to give them a taste-test, just to be sure they were OK...

Many, many Daring Bakers have tackled this challenge, hopefully with less drama. Be sure to visit them and 'Ooh' and 'Aah' over their finished products!






This month, Blog Party is having a Buffy Bash! The whole party devoted to everyone's favorite Slayer, with appetizers and drinks based on, or taken from, the show. So put on some season 3 DVD's and get those entries in before Thursday, the 15th. Hope to see you there!




Tagged with: Food and Drink + Baking + Cake + Daring Bakers + Buttercream + Dorie Greenspan

Huevos y Papas con Rajas en Salsa Verde & Ensalada de Jicama

Scrambled Eggs & Potatoes in Tangy Green Sauce

For Cinco de Mayo, we turned to Rick Bayless and Authentic Mexican: Regional Cooking from the Heart of Mexico.

Per usual, I didn't read through the entire recipe before committing myself, or I would have noticed the 37 steps needed to get to the finished product...

Ok, maybe not that many. But first there was a quick-cooked tomatillo-chile sauce for the eggs. Roasting the poblano. Pre-cooking the potatoes.

No single step is difficult, it just takes up time. Time I didn't realize I needed.

Once all the individual steps are ready, you scramble the eggs till they're nice and soft and big curds. Scrape them into a bowl, top with some queso, and set aside.
Next, fry the now-cubed potatoes with onion till nicely browned. Then, add the thinly-sliced poblano, crank up the heat a bit, and wait for the 'sizzle'. This is when you pour in the tomatillo sauce. Simmer and stir till thick and darker.
Finally, add in the eggs and cheese, cook briefly, and serve.

Piled onto flour tortillas, it has a nice heat without causing pain. Most of that comes from the jalapenos in the sauce. It's hearty and comforting with a great flavor.



Spicy Jicama Salad with Tangerines

This is a lovely, bright, salad that also could have benefited from a more thorough read-through!

Jicama is peeled and cubed and drenched in a bitter orange juice, then left to sit for a while. This is easy, except the bitter orange juice you need to make? Has to sit and 'come together' for 2-3 hours...
Once you get through that, though, it's pretty simple. Add to the jicama chunks of cantalope and tangerine (apple is also a possibility, but we forgot it), toss, and serve on Romaine lettuce leaves, garnishing with chili powder. Well, I should probably add that the recipe has you putting cilantro on as a garnish, as well.
Except in our house? Cilantro is the devil's herb. We hate it. Nasty stuff. We intended to use parsley in it's stead, as we always do, but it was late and we no longer cared...

Happy Cinco de Mayo!



This month, Blog Party is having a Buffy Bash! The whole party devoted to everyone's favorite Slayer, with appetizers and drinks based on, or taken from, the show. So put on some season 3 DVD's and get those entries in before Thursday, the 15th. Hope to see you there!





Tagged with: Food and Drink + Mexican + Cinco de Mayo + Eggs + Tortillas + Jicama + Salad
+ Rick Bayless + Potatoes + Cookbooks + Chiles + Cantalope
+ Tomatillo

Not Dead Yet

Gah...I know. I'm behind on a lot of things here.

I have an extremely late Daring Bakers post to get up, the RRC round-up, some cookbook reviews, all kinds of things.

Soon, I promise.

Blog Party#34: The Buffy Bash

Into every generation, a Hostess is born. One girl, in all the world, a
Chosen One. One born with the plates and dishes to host the parties.

That Hostess would be me.

It's a new month, and that means it's time to slip on your stylish yet affordable boots, and join the latest Blog Party!

And this May, in a nod to what was once sweeps month for the Scoobies, we are having a Buffy Bash.

Yes, really.

This month's party is dedicated to all things Slayer. A party devoted to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Great show, stupid name.

For our 34th Blog Party, we're taking inspiration from the show (not the movie, oh please god no). Your appetizers, your drinks? Buffy-ish.

They can be recreations of food & drinks seen or talked about on the show. (Hmmm...Beer Bad? That could be an issue!) It can be beverages and bites (heh, I just typed 'bites') about the show. Whatever puts marzipan in your pie plate, bingo.

There has to be some kind of connection to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And there HAS to be a drink...of some kind, doesn't have to be alcohol...and an appetizer.

I know it's kind of 'out there' as a theme. I realize that for some, it won't exactly be your cuppa tea (cuppa tea, almost got shagged, cuppa tea). For fans of the show, it's a fun way to remember the Buffyverse. For those who aren't devotees, well, I hope you'll join in anyway. It's a show about a cute blond girl who kills vampires. Run with it.

If you're new to Blog Party, you may want to learn a bit more about this strange little event. Let me 'splain.
[pause]
No, there is too much. Let me sum up.

Blog Party is, at it's core, a virtual cocktail party. We all have busy lives. I know I do. But I love to entertain, and visit with people, and cook for them, and decorate, and all the other fun things associated with parties.

But I never have the time. And it's a big house, and we have FIVE dogs, and I hate dusting!
Plus, everyone I'm friends with lives somewhere else. Organizing a get-together would be a international event.

Instead, I give you Blog Party. It's a place for us to try new recipes, meet new people, and just generally have a good time...all without buying a new outfit or worrying if you've had too many drinks to drive home. No babysitter to find, no rushing to get ready. All you have to do is come up with a drink & appetizer, fitting the theme, by a specific date. That's it! Then, it's just sit back and enjoy the party, because I pick out the music, set the table and decorate the house. You get to visit with the other guests, and sample the evening's offerings. It's a pretty good deal, I think.

Blog Party has been around for almost three years now (I can't believe it, either), and you always come up with the most amazing dishes. No matter how wacky the theme!

If you'd like to see what past parties have been like, you can visit the Blog Party 'homepage'; there you'll find all the round-ups to past parties, and a break-down of the very few rules for joining.

This month's party is coming up soon; the 3rd Thursday of May is just two weeks from today! Which means you have from now till 15 May to RSVP; get those entries to me by leaving a comment (containing your post URL) on any post here, or by emailing me at thehappysorceress at gmail dot com. Round-up will be on or about that Saturday, 17 May.

So, dust off that stake, grab a few bottles of Holy Water, and eat lots of garlic, 'cause we're having a Buffy Bash!

Hope to see you there!




Tagged with: Food and Drink + Blog Party + Events + Appetizers + Cocktails + Canapes + Parties + Finger Food + Mocktails + Buffys + Blogging

Chipotle Chicken Burritos

With food magazines, it can often be hit-or-miss. Some issues practically flower with sticky tabs, leaving us the difficult task of deciding which delicious-sounding recipe to try first.

Other months, just one or two grab our attention. There's absolutely no guarantee, is there? I suppose this is the closest I come to gambling: I hand over money to the publishing companies, and maybe I'll get something in return.

That was the case with this month's Food & Wine. Only a few things called out to me this issue. And one of them was Lucinda's Chipotle Chicken Burrito.

I think it was the words 'chipotle' and 'burrito' that sucked us in. Mostly, 'chipotle'. We're big fans here.

It's not a complicated recipe; it's really just cooking chicken...or Veat...in water with onions and garlic till the meat...or fake meat...is shred-able.
And cooking down onions with a bit of brown sugar, some chipotles and adobo sauce, and tomatoes till it's nice and thick. This is pureed and tossed with the shredded chicken.

Sour cream, diced jalapenos and a little water get blended, and reserved.

Finally, assembly. Warm up flour tortillas, sprinkle with shredded Monterey Jack cheese, the chicken mix down the center, black beans, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, slices of avocado, and the sour cream. Wrap and eat.

Really good stuff. Very filling, and very messy. It didn't help that our tortillas were too small...




I just like the look of those avocados. There's no other reason.




Tagged with: Food and Drink + Burrito + Chipotle + Chicken + Tortillas + Avocado + Salsa
+ Recipes

Just a day or so left to get your Retro Recipe Challenge entries to me! (thehappysorceress at gmail dot com)

Find & make a recipe from a year before your Mother was born, and get them to me by Saturday night!

Looking forward to all your 'old' goodies!

Blogging for Babies: Bite-Sized Vanilla-Hazelnut French Toast, with Nutella

I've discovered the problem: I keep missing deadlines because I can't find last year's calendar.

And without last year's calendar, I've been unable to update this year's. So, I do my best to remember what day it is (forget what date), and get by.

But that means post-by dates for events I'm told myself I'm going to join pass me by...

Like this one, Blogging for Babies, a creation of the wonderfully-named Phe/Mom/enon.

Formerly WalkAmerica, March for Babies, an event sponsored by the March of Dimes, is a way to raise funds for research and education, all in an effort to help & prevent premature births. With premature babies comes a lifetime of potential health and developmental risks and challenges. The March of Dimes has been there for years, helping all babies, but serving as a great resource for those born too early.

If you've spent any time at all here, you know I'm not one to say 'give money' or 'buy this'. I don't even accept advertising on Dispensing Happiness. But this is just one of those causes I feel strongly enough about to say 'hey, let's do something'.

Years ago, when I had a life (oh, my...that seems so very long ago), I would participate in the then-WalkAmerica as one of the local 'celebrities' in my hometown. I didn't have a child of my own then, and very few...if any...of my friends did. It wasn't personal, it just seemed like a darn good idea. Children and animals will always get my support, because they are the most defenseless.

So, PheMom is walking this year, and she's doing her best to raise some money for the cause. In her case, though, it is personal: her son was born premature last year. This cause, while something she'd supported in the past, holds an even deeper meaning for her. The March of Dimes was there for her, and she wants to make sure they continue to be a source of help to others.

PheMom had asked people to raise awareness by making something little. Well, here you go. My Vanilla-Hazelnut French Toast, served with Nutella, made from a baguette. If you make the effort, you might get two bites out of them. Easily consumed in one.

It's late (see above), so making something little really isn't necessary. But if you'd like to help out, please visit her sponsor page. We all appreciate your help & support...thank you!

One of My Favorite Things

My grandparent's house was the one place I always felt I was 'home'. Lots of love there, growing up.

Theirs was a great place to be a kid, too...big yard with trees and a garden. I loved the white birch tree in the front yard, tearing those strips of 'paper' off and pretending it was a secret message (see, odds are I was pretending to be an undercover agent during World War II...). There were places to hide, enough space to play kick-ball with the neighborhood kids, a good front porch for sitting and reading, everything you could want.

But one thing I remember most: the lilacs growing in the front yard, right at the edge of the property that sloped down from the neighbor, Althea.

Even as a child, I looked forward to those two or so weeks when the lilacs would bloom. I'm not the girliest of girls; I don't go ga-ga over flowers. But something about those lilacs drew me in. Their scent was intoxicating. I didn't even mind sharing space with the bees. I just wanted to dance and sing and play around those beautiful light purple flower bunches so I could inhale their beauty.

When we first looked at this house, it was June. Everywhere we looked, the property was a gorgeous and vibrant green.

We bought the place in September, and busied ourselves with numerous indoor projects (rooms with nine and eleven layers of wallpaper; I kid you not) and just basically getting settled.

When March & April came around, that first spring in the house, every morning was a discovery. A joyous, fragrant, discovery.

Every time I looked at the property, I found some new flower, or tree...with buds in white, pink, and even a couple shades of purple! I remember thinking "purple trees, how perfect for me".

There's a rose bush just beyond the kitchen window that, without fail, blooms within a day or two of Mother's day. Every year.

The yard itself is a wonderland, with all the wild violets and spring onions and other sweet smells.

But it was the day I realized I had my own lilacs that I truly felt this place was 'home'.

Tucked into a corner, where the semi-wrap-around porch joins the walls to the kitchen and dining room, is an eight or so foot tall beauty, with a bounty of lilacs. I can see them from the window above the kitchen sink, I can watch them from the dining room.
The pair of cardinals who live here spend a great deal of time there. We can eat dinner and listen to Mr. Cardinal sing his beautiful song, perched on a lilac branch.

They're a wonder to look upon, and the smell? Oh, the smell of lilacs. Any excuse to walk by will do, and when I do pass them, I find myself lingering, inhaling that earthy, sweet scent.

The smell of 'home'.

A Yellow-Splattered Stove for a Taste of Yellow

My great-aunt Margaret is currently undergoing yet another round of chemotherapy. I've lost track of how many she's gone in for surgery, or more treatment. It seems like years, and I'm sure it feels like decades to her.

During a previous bout, one of 'the cousins' (that would be my mom's) sent out an email to all the family members that kind of shocked me.

There were five girls in my Grammy's family. She's the oldest, and Margaret is the youngest. This cousin pointed out that all five of them, my Grammy & great-aunts, had been diagnosed with cancer. Three of them had died from it.

Grammy was one of the lucky ones. A diligent doctor discovered something that just didn't seem right, sent her to someone who would know better, and learned she had ovarian cancer.

She had a surgery, and a round of chemo, and has been cancer-free since. This was a few years ago.

My great-aunt, on the other hand, has seen the cancer spread despite surgeries and treatments. They cut it...and other things, I'm afraid...out, she bravely faces down more chemotherapy, and without fail, the cancer spreads, or comes back.

What was also mentioned it that email was the fact a doctor, many years ago, suggested all the women in the family get tested for a certain gene: all those women, my grandmother and her sisters, had DIFFERENT forms of cancer. Breast, skin, throat, ovarian, intestinal...too many to mention. And again, three of them died as a direct result of their diseases.

Nothing was ever done, unfortunately. And those of us a generation or two down never realized the connection.

My mother and aunts have been lucky. So far, no sign of any form of cancer. But it admittedly leads to a certain amount of paranoia. Is that a lump? Those pains...do they mean something serious?

That scientists can come up with a pill to give men a more satisfying sex life and re-grow hair, but a cure for cancer is still a distant dream leaves me baffled.

Not only that, but for many forms of cancer, we're still without means of detection.

After discussing family history with my doctor, I asked about genetic testing, and were there ways to detect this or that form?

She told me, sadly, that in many cases, there weren't. That she could test me for a certain kind today, but it would only tell her I didn't have it TODAY. Tomorrow, cancer cells could show up. It's just the way it is.

Depressing as it is, I try to have hope. So when Barbara asked me to join this year's LiveSTRONG: A Taste of Yellow event, I had to be there.

Using spices from my most recent Blogging by Mail package, I created a vaguely Indian dish. Onions, garlic and ginger cooked in oil & ghee till seriously soft, cubed potatoes, yellow chili powder, turmeric, cumin, peppercorns, cardamom and Indian black salt, as well as a good plain yogurt, added in and cooked till potatoes are tender. Toss in some frozen peas for a few minutes, and serve with rice.

Comfy and filling, it was decidedly yellow.

(I know I'm a day late with this, but it was too good a cause to miss.)





I'm hosting the latest Retro Recipe Challenge, and this time, it's all about Mom!

There's still time to join!

Pick a recipe from a year before your mother was born (thank you John, Paul, George & Ringo) and send those URL's in by Saturday, 26 April. So, tie up those apron strings, paste a pretty smile on your face, and get cooking!



Tagged with: Food and Drink + liveSTRONG + Taste of Yellow + Curry + Potatoes + Turmeric + Indian
+ Blogging

Blog Party#33: Diner & Street &...: The Round Up

Welcome to another Blog Party!

This month, we're hitting the road. Ok, no. We're unlikely to un-glue our butts from the comfy chairs in the house, but our food & drinks? Another story.

We've taken inspiration from our favorite road-side stands, pubs, diners and other on-the-road, full of comfort, foods. And as always, you've all done an impressive job!

We'll get to the food in a moment, but first, I'll put another nickel in the jukebox. A few selections include tracks from these album:

The soundtrack to Diner



CSNY, with 4 Way Street



Harley Davidson Roadhouse Blues



Speaking of jukeboxes, with the kind of food we're eating tonight we will definitely be needing these cute jukebox napkins!




As you can see, I've set up small table all over the house, so grab a seat anywhere.

And on each one, you'll find these absolutely perfect condiment bottles!



Because it seems appropriate, I've hung this up on the wall, too:


And for all our cocktails, this garnish holder is simply perfect!






Ok, now let's get to the introductions & eat!



We have a nice crowd tonight, and as the orders are placed, we start with Judith! Fortunately, this is one diner that can guarantee some veggie-friendly fare.
Judith's going fancy-French on us, and ordering the Grand Marnier & Sugar Crepes; now that's some high-end street food!
She's sweetened her order even more with a nice big cup of Grand Marnier-spiked Dark Drinking Chocolate; yum!
That's all sounds wonderful, Judith...you'd better guard your plate because there's a good chance the rest of us will come by for a taste!







mk99's taken a seat, and she's clearly in the mood for something fun & portable. In that case, a couple of these Hot Buttered Pretzels should hit the spot!
Have I mentioned that soft pretzels are a weakness of mine??
To wash it down, mk just wants a nice, cold, Beer...but with a slice of Orange. Sounds perfect! And if you feel like sharing one of those pretzels with me...





We have a first-timer here tonight, everyone be sure to give a proper Blog Party welcome to Lidian! Have I mentioned that your banner looks a lot like my kitchen curtains??!
Again, it's a good thing this kitchen is kind to vegetarians! And with that in mind, it looks like Lidian has decided on a plate of Roasted Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce. Mmm...sounds good to me! I don't have tofu that often, but when I do, it's often in a similar dish.
A glass of White Wine, and she's set.





We have another newcomer here tonight; everyone say 'hi' to theSassyChef!
But you'd never guess this was her first time calling out an order for a Blog Party. Because The Love Feud of the Green Sisters, a gorgeous Asian-inspired, veggie-and-beef-elicious topped cucumber round, is absolutely beautiful, and perfect!
(and it may be the first time a BP dish has required footnotes!)
TheSassyChef decided on Amazake to drink, and yes...that seems just the thing for it.





As we work out way around the tables, it's Harmony's turn. I'm fairly certain this is her first time at Blog Party, so let's make sure she feels welcome!
Harmony's sticking with the always-popular fair-and-street food option, and ordering more soft pretzels! But these ones are just a bit different, she's asked for a couple of Soft Oaty Pretzels. Mmm...crunchy. And it looks like she's having a glass of (German?) wine: Liebfraumilch.





We turn to Mrs. W; who I believe is also visiting us for the very first time! (if not, smack me). Welcome!!
Mrs. W has a craving for some beautiful & layered Kofte Kebabs with Pomegranate Reduction & Lentil Salad ; they may be a mouthful to say, but these gorgeous spoonfuls look pretty easy to eat!
Another order paired with a glass of wine (do I even have a liquor license? or it is BYOB?), this time Mrs. W is in the mood for Goats do Roam.





Look...Gabi's here!! She doesn't need a menu, though...she knows exactly what she wants. And that would be the full-on comfort food of the Blue Plate Special: Mini Meatloaves, Tiny Taters, & One-Bite Banana Cream Pies. And what better way to wash it all down than with a Cuppa Joe Kahlua Float?? Now that's Blog Party-style Diner food!





Who's that over in the corner? Why, it's J! Good to have you back, now get on over here and join us. What'll you have?
Ah, how perfectly perfect! My early impression of British food was that everyone ate fish & chips, in newspaper, of course. I know better now, but I can't help but smile at J's order of a slightly-modernized Fish & Chips, in the Sunday paper, too! Whee...!
It may not be traditional, but that gorgeous bottle of Evian will certainly win you points for style!








I know you've come to expect multiple plates from me, but tonight all I'm in the mood for is some comfort food, Diner-style. So I'm ordering the very simple Grilled Cheese Mini Sandwiches & Shots of Tomato-Basil Soup.

Just slices of baquette, buttered and topped with cheese slices (you know, the orange stuff!), and grilled till melty. An espresso cup filled with Ina Garten's Roasted Tomato Basil soup hits the spot. Exactly the kind of food hug I was looking for.

To go with, a nice cold glass bottle of Coca Cola. I'd show you, but Matt's started drinking it already!


As always, you guys knocked it out of the park. So many ideas, so many interpretations. And all in bite-sized form! I am constantly amazed and impressed by the dishes you come up with, and tuck them away for all my special occasions.

This one was a lot of fun, and I think it gave us a chance to go the 'homey' route. But next month? Oh, we're going to have a blast. I mean, it's going to be different, and fun, and kind of pop culture, and I honestly have been waiting to do this since I came up with the theme last year!

So those of you who entered via the comments, would you please drop me an email? I'm not sure I have an address for all of you, and I want to get May's theme to you as soon as possible. The rest of you will hear from me soon. In the meantime, catch up on your sleep, dust off Mr. Pointy, and get ready to patrol...!








I'm hosting the latest Retro Recipe Challenge, and this time, it's all about Mom!

There's still time to join!

Pick a recipe from a year before your mother was born (thank you John, Paul, George & Ringo) and send those URL's in by Saturday, 26 April. So, tie up those apron strings, paste a pretty smile on your face, and get cooking!







Tagged with: Food and Drink + Blog Party + Events + Appetizers + Cocktails + Canapes + Parties + Finger Food + Mocktails + Diners+ Blogging

Wondering

I can't help but wonder if, when I'm making any kind of bread, I or my kitchen are suddenly transported to the Sahara Desert?

Or am I, personally, arid?

Because, when I make any kind of bread dough, I systematically exceed the listed amount of water for a recipe.

I'm making focaccia. A recipe I've made dozens of times. I know it well. And while I have seen Jamie Oliver make his with a scant two cups of water, I know I'll use 3 1/2 cups of water, minimum.

Do I have some special ability that leeches moisture from the air when touching flour? I'd complain about the particular brand I'm using here, if this very thing didn't happen to me while in California, too.

I always begin with high hopes. I dutifully measure out the liquid, and when it comes time to pour it in, mentally cross my fingers (because, let's face it, my fingers are kind of busy just then).

Immediately, it's apparent I'll need more water (in this case). So, with my fingers entombed in a crust of dampened semolina and all-purpose flours, I pour a bit of water in a bowl, nuke it for a few seconds, add it to the measuring cup the yeast had proofed in (to get the last remnants of yeast-y goodness), and add it to the dough.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

I'm not sure why I'm so surprised when this happens. It always happens. I suppose I'm just following the traditional cycle; this stage seems to be titled 'frustrations'.

But, the dough has been left to it's own devices, and that magic that is yeast is now belching flavorful gases and exponentially increasing the dough's mass. Soon, I can take out the aforementioned frustrations on the seemingly innocent dough, with pounding and poking.

It always works out. It's an amazing recipe, and I love it. But I'm always left wondering exactly What is up with me & flour?

Horseshoe Heart Attack

So, Friday night, as I sat on the couch still recovering from the latest Battlestar Galactica episode, I found myself channel surfing. I needed fluff, nothing demanding actual brain activity (Ron & David, you're in Joss territory now).

I found myself on the Food Network, and Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Comfort food & nostalgia. Perfect for post-BG recovery.

I wasn't really paying attention, but I caught a segment about a diner serving up something called the 'Horseshoe'; a colossal pile of food, one layer upon another. They served several versions, and it was the breakfast offering that got me.

Three layers of thick-cut toast, a giant ham steak, eggs, French fries with either gravy or cheese sauce on top.

It was intriguing, and as I've had diners on the brain this month...plus I'm a lifetime subscriber when it comes to comfort food...I decided to make a version of my own.

Two pieces of toast, topped with Morningstar Farms breakfast sausage links and patties, as well as a few strips of their bacon, scrambled eggs with cheese, hash browns, and a vegetarian sausage gravy.

It was...delicious! And bordering on the disgusting. Perfect. And yes, comfort on a fork.

I ate more than I should have, and packed up the remains for another day. And I kept thinking, 'it's a good thing I'm using lower-cholesterol versions of this, or my doctor would weep for me'.






Invites to April's Blog Party are out, and this month we're celebrating our favorite Diner, Street, and Pub foods by fancy-ing them up and turning them into appetizers!

Your favorite virtual cocktail party is taking to the streets, or rather, our food is.

RSVP by Thursday, 17 April...and I hope to see you there!





I'm hosting the latest Retro Recipe Challenge, and this time, it's all about Mom!

Pick a recipe from a year before your mother was born (thank you John, Paul, George & Ringo) and send those URL's in by Saturday, 26 April. So, tie up those apron strings, paste a pretty smile on your face, and get cooking!






Tagged with: Food and Drink + Diners + Breakfast + Horseshoe + Vegetarian

Serenity

If you're a tea-lover, a fan of Joss Whedon, or both, here's some news.

My favorite tea company, Adagio, has introduced a new tea, inspired by Mal, Zoe, Wash & Co.: Firefly!

This is just too cool.

The Donna Hay Way

Rocket & Parmesan Couscous Salad; DH New Food Fast

You know those nights when you want 'real' food for dinner, but don't want to be stuck with anything resembling 'real' cooking, or the corresponding dishes? When faced with one of those, we generally turn to Donna Hay.


Harrisa & Yoghurt Baked Chicken; DH Off the Shelf

This is my kind of easy food; a simple couscous with Parmesan cheese, topped with arugula and balsamic vinegar-drizzled tomato slices.

Paired with a mint & chili paste-spiced yogurt-covered chicken (and Veat) dish, it was a healthy, richly-flavored meal.

And it all came together in less than 45 minutes, and that's only because I got distracted half-way through...




Invites to April's Blog Party are out, and this month we're celebrating our favorite Diner, Street, and Pub foods by fancy-ing them up and turning them into appetizers!

Your favorite virtual cocktail party is taking to the streets, or rather, our food is.

RSVP by Thursday, 17 April...and I hope to see you there!





I'm hosting the latest Retro Recipe Challenge, and this time, it's all about Mom!

Pick a recipe from a year before your mother was born (thank you John, Paul, George & Ringo) and send those URL's in by Saturday, 26 April. So, tie up those apron strings, paste a pretty smile on your face, and get cooking!






Tagged with: Food and Drink + Dinner + Donna Hay + Chicken + Veat + Couscous + Balsamic Vinegar + Cookbooks

BBM Help

Does anyone know Michelle of Life in the Pink Kitchen?

Not only has her blog disappeared, her email continues to bounce back as 'permanent failure'.

Anybody have a way of contacting her?

Thanks.

Beauty Aid

So, not about food, this post.

Instead, it's a sort of plea, an appeal, perhaps, to overseas readers.

I'm desperate. I admit it.

I'm trying to find someone who can help me get a certain kind of make up, sold only through ccb-paris.

I shopped with them for years, but they stopped selling to the United States, citing shipping costs.

Me? I'm willing to pay those shipping costs, because the product is just that good.

What I am desperately trying to get my hands on is their Nudity line; foundations and concealers.



Is there anyone who can help a girl out? I'm willing to pay full price, or swap goods, or whatever. But I've just about scraped the last usable bits from what I have left...it's really quite sad.

I thank you, in advance.

Regular food-based blogging will resume.

Black Bean & Corn Chilaquiles with Roasted Tomato & Chipotle Sauce

Or, this post has almost nothing to do with food

Some...er, uh...many, well, a long time ago in a town I remember with a mixture of fondness and seething hatred, when I was out on my own for the first time and paying for things like health insurance (because the radio station didn't cover us; heck, they refused to call 60 hours worked in one week over-time), I decided I needed to have my eyes checked.

It'd been about a year since my last check-up, and as my eyes like to cause all sorts of trouble for me, it seemed like a good idea.

The doctor I'd been seeing for a number of years is partially responsible for my deep & abiding distrust and avoidance of the medical profession. Of course I believe we, as a society, need doctors and hospitals and modern medicine: I just don't want anything to do with them personally

When I go to a doctor's appointment, I'm anxious, and on the defensive, and desperately wanting to disappear. I've had a lot of bad news, bad experiences and a fair amount of misogyny over the years.
I'll go if I absolutely have to, but I do my best to avoid unnecessary visits.

This was also a time before I learned to drive (the women in my family are kind of late-bloomers when it comes to driving), and I walked everywhere. Luckily, my hometown was is small enough that practically any thing I needed, any place I wanted go, was walk-able. It might take half an hour, or more, but I never minded.

So, I walked. And one place I frequently walked to was the public library. I spent a lot of time there; it was a kind of refuge, a safe haven of sorts from childhood.

It's not a large building, and on what could be called a residential-ish street. It shares a street name with a B&B-style hotel, a funeral home, a residential towers for the elderly (and are located a little too close for my comfort), a Catholic church and their now-defunct elementary school.
Lots of houses, nice ones, too.

But very close by is a doctor's office. An eye doctor's office.

In fact, it was the office of one of the very first eye doctor's I'd gone to, who just happened to be the father of a classmate.

He'd retired, and the practice had been taken over by someone from outside the area.

That was the first reason to go to her.

Second, the doctor was, obviously, a woman. I have an even more difficult time dealing with male doctors. All my issues are compounded when it's a guy. It's all I can do not to bolt.

But women, well, it's not as bad. I'm not saying it's the proverbial walk in the park, but it's easier.

I made the appointment, and when I got there, immediately felt at ease. Well, at least, for me. There was a welcoming feeling, perhaps in part by the obvious remodeling that had taken place. It's was more open, and brighter, than I'd remembered. No stuffy wood paneling here.

The staff was incredibly friendly, too. That always helps, when you walk into a doctor's office and the receptionist/nurses don't treat you as though you're one more annoyance in their day.

Naturally, I had to fill out some paperwork, and then I had a short wait before the doctor was ready to see me.

I looked through the magazine racks, and oh, my gosh. I saw something absolutely wonderful and amazing.

I saw copies of Vegetarian Times.

Three or four of them.

That may not mean anything to you, but for me? It was...like finding the Holy Grail, only without fighting Nazi's.

At this point, I'd been a vegetarian for a couple of years, and to say I'd been winging it would just be funny. Get it? Wing? And vegetarians don't eat...oh, forget it.

What I mean is, I became a vegetarian because I cared too deeply for animals to eat them. But in my hometown, I was not just a minority, I was a carnival attraction.

Open the local newspaper, and see photos of men, women and kids dressed in their camoflage finery, sitting next to the quite evidently dead deer they'd just snagged.

The first days of deer hunting season, doe & buck? School holidays. That's right: don't come to school today...go kill something!

And eating out? Impossible for a vegetarian. Everything has meat in it. On it. Around it.

( Wait, the secret ingredient in the beef is ... beef? )

Even the salads, and salad bars, contain meat. Hungry times for a veggie who really didn't know what she was doing.

And there, in front of me, was a magazine dedicated to vegetarianism? I didn't know such things even existed.

I paged through while I waited for the doctor, and couldn't believe what I saw. Recipes, yes, but articles about how food is made and sustainability and ec0- and animal-friendly products. It was a page-sized piece of heaven.

It wasn't long before the doctor was ready for me, and I liked her from the start. She was young, and friendly and just so...positive.

We talked...that was one of the best things. She asked questions, and listened. And we talked about more than just eyes and vision. About the town, where she was from, etc.

As we were finishing up, I mentioned the magazine and how in-awe I was, of their existence and placement in my hometown.

She told me she was a vegetarian, too...and that, in fact, all her staff were veg-friendly. (I suppose today many of them would be known as flex-itarians)

And then, as she walked me out to the front, she veered off towards the waiting area, gathered up all the issues of Vegetarian Times she had there, and gave them to me.

I was flabbergasted. What a gift! What an act of kindness!

I thanked her, probably more times than was necessary, and headed home.

When I got there, I suppose the proper sentence would be 'I devoured them'. I read those magazines cover to cover. Every article, every recipe, every product, every ad.

And then I subscribed.

I've been getting Vegetarian Times ever since. That's got to be...close to nine or ten years; I've lost count.

I eventually left my hometown. Moved to California. Vegetarian? Everywhere I looked, products, recipes, restaurant dishes for me. It was delightful, and a bit overwhelming.

We're in the South now, and at least in a college town. Still plenty of options around.

But my copies of Vegetarian Times are still dear to me. I love their 'Carrot & Stick' page, and the fact they've been incorporating soy-based meat substitutes into their recipes. I learn, I grow, I cook, I eat.

The April issue was a particularly good one; I made four or five of the recipes.

Including this one.



Browned tortilla strips, topped with a mixture of roasted tomatoes, onions and garlic, with chipotles in adobo, all pureed.
That was covered by black beans, corn, red onion and queso cotija, more sauce, and baked.

Spread with lime-thinned sour cream, and serve.





Invites to April's Blog Party are out, and this month we're celebrating our favorite Diner, Street, and Pub foods by fancy-ing them up and turning them into appetizers!

Your favorite virtual cocktail party is taking to the streets, or rather, our food is.

RSVP by Thursday, 17 April...and I hope to see you there!





I'm hosting the latest Retro Recipe Challenge, and this time, it's all about Mom!

Pick a recipe from a year before your mother was born (thank you John, Paul, George & Ringo) and send those URL's in by Saturday, 26 April. So, tie up those apron strings, paste a pretty smile on your face, and get cooking!

Blogging by Mail: Almost, but Not Quite

So, most of the packages...79 out of 85...have shipped. But it's now three weeks past the ship-by date, and there's 6 unaccounted for.

Below is a list of blogs that, as far as I know, have not yet shipped their boxes. If you see your blog there and have in fact mailed out your package, this is a reminder to Let Me Know.
If you haven't, consider it a gentle kick to the nether regions. We want everyone to get their box, and that will only happen if all packages go out (and the various postal services are kind to us).

Also, if you haven't yet posted about a received package, please do so and let me know!!!

And let's do our best to make short work of this list, ok?

Girls on a Grill-Katie's Blog

Heaven on Earth

m3rni3

PrettyBaking in Israel

Rachel's Bite

Sugar & Spice







Invites to April's Blog Party are out, and this month we're celebrating our favorite Diner, Street, and Pub foods by fancy-ing them up and turning them into appetizers!

Your favorite virtual cocktail party is taking to the streets, or rather, our food is.

RSVP by Thursday, 17 April...and I hope to see you there!





I'm hosting the latest Retro Recipe Challenge, and this time, it's all about Mom!

Pick a recipe from a year before your mother was born (thank you John, Paul, George & Ringo) and send those URL's in by Saturday, 26 April. So, tie up those apron strings, paste a pretty smile on your face, and get cooking!

Blogging by Mail: Indian Surprises!

Last week, my BBM package arrived, in surprisingly good condition as it had shipped from India!

As always, when matching bloggers for Blogging by Mail, I find myself in a bit of a weird situation: who do I assign to me? It's kind of awkward.

But I muddle though, and this time I asked Coco to be my 'send to' partner. We exchanged a lovely series of emails, talking about the different kinds of Indian foods and spices I enjoyed till she had a pretty good idea where I was.

Now, I'm as much into the 'surprise' factor of BBM as the next blogger, but it's not easy to maintain the mystery when both our identities are known!

The box arrived in a lovely cloth wrapping, and when I got the package opened? Oh, the smells. The wonderful earthy smells.

Coco packed a huge amount of flavor into that small box, filling it with spices and snacks and things to enhance our love of Indian cuisine.

There was turmeric, in whole form. No, I had no idea it could be used as an antiseptic!

Various chilies, including the lovely yogurt-soaked ones you see in the slide show.

A ginger tea that went over very well with the Indian meal we served to a friend last weekend!

Sweets, spices, and even those wonderful Indian-style 'after-dinner mints' Matt loves so much.

A most wonderful package! Coco, it was perfect, and I thank you. Everything is useful and appreciated.

Less than 20 of the remaining boxes are left to be shipped...if you have shipped your package but have yet to tell me, please do! And if you haven't mailed yours yet, well...we're approaching three weeks since the 'ship by' date. There are sweet bloggers out there, just waiting for a little post office-delivered sunshine. Don't keep them waiting!

Also, if you have gotten a package, but have not posted about it? Please do so quickly. Everyone likes to see what you got, and it's part of the whole BBM-thing. So, keep in touch: mail package if you haven't, let me know if you have. If you've received a package but haven't told me, again, please do. And don't forget to post and let me know about that, too!

We're getting close!






Invites to April's Blog Party are out, and this month we're celebrating our favorite Diner, Street, and Pub foods by fancy-ing them up and turning them into appetizers!

Your favorite virtual cocktail party is taking to the streets, or rather, our food is.

RSVP by Thursday, 17 April...and I hope to see you there!





I'm hosting the latest Retro Recipe Challenge, and this time, it's all about Mom!

Pick a recipe from a year before your mother was born (thank you John, Paul, George & Ringo) and send those URL's in by Saturday, 26 April. So, tie up those apron strings, paste a pretty smile on your face, and get cooking!

Blog Party#33: Diner (and Road & Street) Food

It's that time again; time to mark your calendars and save the date. Because you're invited to the 33rd edition of Blog Party!

This time around, we're hitting the road. Or, rather, our taste buds are. We're taking our favorite roadside foods and down-sizing them. Those must-haves from your favorite pub, street vendor or local diner? Turn them into finger food!

Bloomin' onions? Soft pretzels? Meatloaf & mashed potatoes? Noodles, sushi, whatever you usually grab when you're on the road, or the comfort foods you turn to at an all-night spot; whatever makes you happy.

Just serve it up as an appetizer, pair it with a beverage of your choice, and RSVP by Thursday, 17 April. You can leave your URL in the comments section of any post, or send an email to thehappysorceress at gmail dot com. Party kicks off that Saturday night, 19 April.

Want to know more about Blog Party? Visit the rules & round-up page, located here.

Still have questions? Write to me at the above address...and I hope I see you there!



Tagged with: Food and Drink + Blog Party + Events + Appetizers + Cocktails + Canapes + Parties + Finger Food + Mocktails + Diners+ Blogging

Daring Bakers Challenge:The Day After the Perfect Party Cake

When I realized I had to miss February's challenge, I vowed I'd make whatever was on tap for March. When I discovered it was Dorie Greenspan's Perfect Party Cake, I thought 'this will be a piece of cake' (ha). I have a copy of the book. This should be easy.

Yeah...

March was a busy month, and I think that because...at least initially...the cake was to be decorated with coconut, I unconsciously resisted making it.

We are not a coconut-loving family, you see.

So, various events and happenings, uh, happened, and a few days ago, I realized I'd yet to tackle my DB challenge.

I gave the 'assignment' another look over, and discovered the decorating requirements had been relaxed considerably.

It was incredibly last-minute: I didn't make the cake till Sunday night. But by golly, that's one Perfect Party Cake up there!

I have a thing for square cakes, so I made mine in nine-inch squares. I followed the basic cake recipe, but used strawberry jelly in place of the raspberry preserves...using as little as possible: fruit-fillings aren't popular around here.

I desparately wanted to do something cool with the decorations, but it was very last minute and inspiration was not forthcoming. So...I went all Jackson Pollock on it.




it was very lemony, and very good. The buttercream came out wonderfully, the cakes as well.

I wish I could have given this more attention, but for a last-minute affair, it wasn't half bad.

Be sure to see what the other DB'ers have come up with!

Tagged with: Food and Drink + Baking + Cake + Daring Bakers + Buttercream + Dorie Greenspan