Raisin & Fig

Cowgirl Turkey Burgers

Greetings from Couer d’Alene, Idaho! I’m spending a few days with my best friend and her horses, and we have worked up an appetite! (Those stalls don’t muck themselves, now, do they!?)

While I love spending time in the kitchen, spending a few gorgeous days in this beautiful place with these precious ponies takes priority on such a quick trip. So when we get back to the house at night – exhausted, sore and filthy… we want something delicious, but easy!

On the menu? Cowgirl Turkey Burgers! Maybe you’ve had a bad turkey burger experience. I’ve been there! I’m betting the burgers you’ve tried were either dry or flavorless or both. Several versions I’ve experimented with were too. But when a friend introduced me to these… WOWZA!

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Placido Domingo… and some sort of pork dish

placido - rosas night

I’ve had a number of memorable meals at Rosa Mexicano, but one stands out above the rest.

It was early 1994, and Husband and I were in New York for some event or another, and as always, we made to book one dinner at the original Rosa’s on 58th and First Avenue. We were shown to a cozy spot in a little alcove that had just two tables, way in the back of the restaurant.

We were too busy enjoying a beverage and narrowing down the fabulous menu options to pay attention to the group sitting next to us.

But then the singing started …

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Apped’oeuvre Place-Cards {Entertaining Tip}

appetizer placecard

One of my favorite kinds of gatherings to throw is a cocktail party. I like being able to serve a bunch of different apped’oeuvres, and not be tied to the timing and formality of a sit-down dinner. (Yes, I know “apped’oeuvre” is not a real word. But I want it to be…)

Since I usually mix up tried-and-true recipes with some “experiments,” I want to let guests know what they’re eating. So I make place-cards to identify what is on each tray. You might have noticed one of these in a recent post.

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Chicken Enchiladas w/ Salsa Verde

Hola amigos!

While I’d love to commit to a big ol’ Mexican feast with homemade tortillas and an authentic mole sauce, this year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration falls in the middle of an absolutely crazy schedule. {I’m not even Mexican anyway, so I don’t feel obligated…} This weekend, I’m going for another one of my it’s-so-simple-I-could-make-it-in-my-sleep recipes.

Start the evening with some sliced jicama sticks, chips and guacamole or a make-ahead dip… Serve the enchiladas with rice, and maybe a side of black beans, roasted corn and tomatoes*, and you’ve got yourself a meal. Pour your favorite tasty adult beverage, turn on your favorite background music {that’d be Gypsy Kings for us}, and you’ve got yourself a fiesta!

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{Throwback Thursday} Magic Marshmallow Puffs

This one comes with a guarantee… these little pockets of naughty won’t last long in your house!

And… I should say right up front that this is an exception to my typically healthy repertoire.

Years ago, I had moved into this cool warehouse apartment – great for entertaining. But one of brothers asked why I just didn’t make the kitchen into a library or something, since my “talents” didn’t land me anywhere near a kitchen. There was one thing I could make. Magic Marshmallow Puffs. While I know they aren’t the reason Husband married me, I can safely say these kept him interested!

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Roasted Cauliflower

I can eat this like it’s popcorn.

If you’re not a raw cauliflower fan, I understand. Raw “cruciferous” vegetables, as they’re called, can be a little off-putting. (For you, and those around you, if you get my drift.)

But just like with onions, roasting or caramelizing them changes some of their chemical properties, producing a wonderfully rich, almost sweet flavor.

But enough from “Bill Nye the Science Guy.”

Are you trying to get more vitamin C and fiber into your day? This is a good option. Preparing it is fast and easy, and makes a great substitute for a higher carb side dish. It’s versatile too – like a perfect pair of black pants, you can “dress it up, or dress it down.”

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{Make Your Own} Almond Milk

Don’t worry, I’m not going all Euell Gibbons on you. (What, you’re too young for that reference? Lucky you… !)

Anyway, if you listen to the “experts” you’ll hear that dairy is good, then… dairy is bad! Soy is good, soy is bad! Who can keep up?!

(Thankfully, there seems to be pretty consistent praise for red wine and dark chocolate – in moderation of course. But I digress… again.)

Dairy and voice-over work don’t go well together — at least for me. So lately, I’ve been using almond milk instead of dairy or soy.

I love it, and use it in anything that calls for regular milk. But one look at ingredient list on the package and I quickly run out of words I can pronounce. I had heard how easy (and economical and “green”) it is to make your own without all the additives and preservatives. I’m always up for a fun food experiment!

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{Trick Your Children!} Healthier Macaroni & Cheese

Moms the world over have devised some very creative ways to get their kids (or husbands) to eat more vegetables. Today’s adaptation is one of my all-time favorites.

Years ago I discovered a couple of Diane Seed’s wonderful cookbooks. The recipes are simple and straightforward, but unique. And the illustrations are delightful. When I got rid of my cookbook collection this is one I couldn’t part with. One of the first recipes I tried was her “Tagliolini with Creamed Carrots.” Besides being delicious (and a little bit naughty) it struck me how much this tasted like homemade mac and cheese, and had that out-of-the-box orange color. Hmmm, what if I used elbow macaroni instead of tagliolini? Might kids fall for this sneaky way of eating more vegetables?!

Since I forgot to have children (where did those years GO!?) I needed to borrow my “victims.” So I experimented on my niece and nephew. While they didn’t believe for one minute that this was mac n’ cheese out-of-a-box, they loved it. Continue Reading →

{Meatless Monday} Grilled Vegetable Sformato

For my sister’s birthday a few years ago, I gave her a gift certificate to a cooking class that we could do together. Since she’s not a big meat eater, I chose one that focused on great vegetarian dishes. With more and more “experts” talking about the health benefits of cutting back on meat, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to add to my repertoire either.

The class was taught by the wonderful Robin Asbell and held at Cooks of Crocus Hill. We had a great time, and over a few glasses of wine, learned to make a bunch of new dishes. Robin’s “Grilled Vegetable Sformato” was our favorite.

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Bibimbap {a Korean bowl of yummy} + karaoke

A friend found this bibimbap recipe in Bon Appetit and wanted to taste the “real thing” before attempting to make the dish at home. (I love that kind of research!) On our internet search, Hoban in Eagan repeatedly came up as one of the best Korean restaurants in the Twin Cities. So last Friday night we nabbed some friends for an impromptu dinner adventure.

The restaurant is in a strip mall (no surprise there) and looking through the windows from the parking lot, we could see it was packed. About 95% of the patrons were Korean (well, once WE walked in). We figured that was a good sign…

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