Archive for June, 2008

“I Like Screwtops”

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Dan, the wine editor, has a new post up in his column Uncorked and Decanted. It’s titled “I Like Screwtops.” I bet you didn’t know wine came in screwtop bottles. I didn’t either, until he introduced me to this very selection–Big House’s Prodigal Son–during a recent visit. Learn more by clicking the permalink, or hit Uncorked and Decanted in the header bar and browse more of Dan’s awesome wine tips.

Greek-Inspired Grilled Chicken and Spring Green Salad

grilledchickenspringgreensalad.jpgI posted a new recipe at Salad Night. Greek-Inspired Grilled Chicken and Spring Green Salad. Here’s the permalink, or you can click on Salad Night in the header bar and browse the recipes from there. Enjoy!

Project Food Blog Cook-Off: May’s Winner!

I’m a little late with this, I know. Blame my hardwood floors. We refinished two rooms in our downstairs over Memorial Day weekend, and were out of the house for a good four days. So, no cooking in my stinky Varathaned kitchen during that time. But all that’s over with now. The floors are beautiful. The kitchen in is mine.

Once again, I must say how impressed I was by all of the recipes. (For the full list, click here.) I do have a definite winner for this round though. And the winner is:

Bitchin Camero’s Basil Lime Shrimp with Plantains. Fabulous recipe, Mel!

I’m off on vacation now, so the cook-off is going into hiatus. Check back in July or August for another round.

Food Blogga’s Savory Sausage and Fennel Galette

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Anything that involves pastry intimidates me, but this recipe looked so tasty, I (temporarily) forgot my fears, and added it to my list for May’s Project Food Blog Cook-Off. Last Friday, I bought all of the ingredients and returned home excited to make my first ever galette. (What is a galette, you ask. Food Blogga explains. Visit her site. Link below.) I started with the pastry dough. I’ve made enough of it now that I don’t panic, but the process is still a source of anxiety. Will the butter cut in? Will I have enough ice water? Will I make a gluey mess? Luckily, the dough turned out fine, and I didn’t have any problems. I divided it in two, put each in plastic wrap, flattened them into disks. So far, so good. My problem came when I went to make the galette. The recipe says to roll the dough into a 12 inch round. But I had two disks! There was no top and bottom. Just one round. So why two? Honestly, I still don’t know. I joined the two, rolled them out, and made one galette. But see. This is why pastry freaks me out. I should know why the dough is divided. I should, but I don’t. Sigh.

The goodies that go inside the galette I can handle. Sausage, fennel, smoked cheese. Mmmm. And then there are the sundried tomatoes. I absolutely love this touch. I think I’ll add a few more the next time around. The fennel was surprisingly benign. I’ve had fennel in dishes where all you can taste is the fennel. I swore off fennel for a while after that. But here, it works just fine. The presentation is beautiful, too. I made this for supper, but I could easily imagine it for an elegant brunch.

Visit Food Blogga and get her recipe for Savory Sausage and Fennel Galette. Link here.

Raspberry Mint Smoothie

raspberrymintsmoothie.jpgIn a blender, combine:

1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries

½ to ¾ cup raspberry lemonade

1/3 cup ice cubes

1 tsp. honey

1 tbsp. fresh mint leaves

Blend until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Serving size: 1