Meals 338-344

12//05 i've been wanting to try my hand at welsh rarebit since i've returned from my journeys in the united kingdom. and now that i know it's "rarebit" and not "rabbit" (a mistake i had in my head as a child....which was somewhat horrifying). it's a candidate for a meatless monday meal! this classic is basically grilled cheese meets fondue. toast bread (i used pumpernickel) topped with a cheesy creamy sauce. the sauce starts with a roux of equal parts butter and flour. then a liquid is added (usually milk or a stout beer). finally a good strong cheese (like a sharp cheddar) and seasonings are mixed in. i used a pinch of paprika, garlic, salt, pepper and a few dashes of worcestershire  sauce. oh, and i threw in some diced scallions too. the whole thing is popped under the broiler just until it starts to bubble.  this and some tomato soup makes for an incredible meal!

12/06 i have no clue how i came across this recipe.....maybe in one of my searches for a low carb meal? all the same, it looked tasty and i was wanting something lighter for dinner. this is a baked nantucket cod fillet. tender cod topped with lemon juice, paprika, salt and pepper. then covered with tomato slices and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. it was just enough cheese to not overpower the fish, but added a wonderful taste and texture when it melted into the tomatoes. i served it with a side of asparagus for a lighter meal!

12/07 i met some friends for happy hour at "barrel and bushel" tonight. it has the very trendy decor that seems to be popping up everywhere. blonde wood interior. exposed incandescent lightbulb. industrial fixtures. and a TON of craft beers, wines and bourbons! they also had a wonderful menu with twists on classic american foods. i had the chorizo sliders and cheesy jalapeño tater tots. and with the bar facing a seasonal out door ice rink? it made for some excellent people watching as well!

http://barrelandbushel.com

12/08 i've opened up the freezer to pull the hidden leftovers from thanksgiving. what to do with all that ham? being an ever-devote fritter fan, i decided to go through my tried and true fritter recipes and find one that would marry well with some diced ham. i opted for the cauliflower cheddar fritters. and it was the right choice! some shredded sharp cheddar and a little ground mustard in the mix made them a perfect vehicle for the sweet and tender ham. for a side i wilted some kale with caramelized onions.

*side note-these were even better the next day warmed up for breakfast and topped with a poached egg!

12/09 still digging through my leftovers, i stumbled upon the mashed potatoes. i was fondly reminded of having a wonderful dish of beef stroganoff served on a bed of fluffy mashed potatoes and knew that was the next meal to make! stroganoff is so easy, and so tasty! pan cooked pieces of steak simmered in a sauce of beef broth and sour cream. and never leave out the best part of the dish....the mushrooms!! even if you aren't a fan of mushrooms, they work wonders to add a rich earthy depth to the creamy sauce.

12/10 tonight's meal is a slight variation on one of the very first meals i taught myself to make. in one of my mom's cookbooks i saw a recipe for "macadamia encrusted chicken with orange sauce". i admit, it took a few tries before i really figured out what reductions sauces were all about. and very happy i did!!! the sauce is a equal parts chicken broth and orange juice reduced down to a glaze, and thickened slightly with a pat of butter. tonight i added thai pepper sauce and a dash of soy sauce to give it a little kick. over the years i found that i actually prefer pecans to macadamia nuts in this recipe. they're easier to find, cheaper and less of a hassle to chop! they're mixed with a few breadcrumbs, and used to coat chicken breasts that have been coated in beaten egg. i've cooked them in a pan, and also baked them in the oven. both turned out really tasty, but if you cook them in the pan? you can use the same pan to cook the sauce, and get all those lovely drippings!!!

12/11 so many leftover mashed potatoes!! i realize the irish aren't known for their cuisine. but they do know their way around a spud. "colcannon" is basically mashed potatoes mixed with your green of choice (kale, cabbage, swiss chard). and often colcannon is mixed with a little flour and beaten egg then formed into cakes and pan fried. which, yes, makes it a type of fritter!!! they are wonderful on their own. but they also serve as a wonderful base to top with fresh seafood. tonight i picked up a salmon fillet and oven baked it to go with my colcannon cakes!

Meals 331-337

11/28 tonight i went fully seasonal with my meatless monday and made a pumpkin and sage risotto. so satisfying!! i really do love the flavors of pumpkin. and it adds so many extra nutrients to a meal! i grabbed the last bit of the green beans in the fridge as a bright verdant side.

11/29 i had only a few pieces of turkey left over from thanksgiving, and was desperate for some veggies!! so tonight i diced that last little bit of bird with a little bit of ham, and threw it on top of a chef's salad.

11/30 i can almost see the back of my fridge again! tonight's meal called on a little creativity. i had some gouda leftover from my macaroni and cheese ingredients. a few apple slice from the appetizers i had set out. so i did what i do best, and stuffed a chicken breast!!! it paired perfectly with the leftover apple hawaiian bread stuffing i had. all those sweet, savory and tart flavors combing for a satisfying late november meal!

12/01 i had mentioned a while back that i've wanted to experiment more with mussels. i've also mentioned my love of thai flavors. so tonight combined the two!!! mussels cooked in a broth of coconut milk, red curry, ginger and garlic. garnished with scallion and cilantro. the mussels were good....but the broth? holy cow that broth was delicious. i had some bread to soak it  up. but let's be honest. i ended up drinking it out of the bowl. cause i'm classy. with a k.

12/02 just when i thought i had used the last of my thanksgiving leftovers......i see the bowl of cranberry relish hiding in the back of the fridge!!!! what to do with all those berries? after much thought i decided to use them as the base for a slow cooked pork loin. simple enough. i poured the cranberries into the crockpot. i placed a pork tenderloin on top. i sprinkled a packet of french onion soup mix over top. and a i added a few splashed of soy sauce. everything got choked on low for 4 hours. and that pork was falling apart tender!! tasty too!

12/03 i keep seeing recipes for "copy cat chick fil a chicken" on pinterest. and have been dying to try the out. who knew they put powdered sugar in the seasoning mix? it really does add that "something different". i opted for chicken tenders instead of full pieces. i figured they would make for a tasty salad with the leftovers! i also let them soak in buttermilk over night. it really does make a difference in the taste and texture. and i fried these pretty little tenders in the cast iron skillet. so good, they didn't even need sauce! though they did need a side, and it's been far too long since i've made my bleu cheese cole slaw....

12/04 tonight's meal was so much better than i expected! i decided to try my hand at loaded potato soup. i've had good potato soups. and i've had not good potato soups. but this potato soup? was great!!! i sort of combined and altered five different recipes i found, and was very happy with the results. thick, but not overly creamy. and full of veggies. of course the added toppings of bacon and cheddar didn't hurt!!!! the trick? i used the rendered fat from cooking the bacon to sauté my vegetables. so this recipe? not vegetarian friendly. but oh my, the difference it makes!!!

Loaded Potato Soup:

2 lbs red potatoes, diced to bite size
1 leek, sliced
1 yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 stalks celery, chopped
4 Tblsp butter
4 Tblsp flour
2 c chicken broth
4 c whole milk
salt and pepper to taste
8 oz bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 c shredded cheddar
1 bunch scallions, chopped

-boil potatoes in salted water for 12 minutes (or until fork tender). drain and set aside.
-in rendered bacon fat: cook leek, onion, garlic and celery until translucent.
-in stockpot, heat chicken broth and milk over medium until steaming, but not boiling.
-in small pan, melt butter over medium heat.
-whisk flour into butter to form a medium blonde roux (keep whisking as it bubble for about 2 minutes).
-whisk roux into broth/milk until smooth.
-stir veggies into broth.
-add potatoes to soup and stir to combine.
-season with salt and pepper to taste.
-pour into bowl and garnish with bacon, cheese or scallions as desired.

**i've seen some recipes call for adding sour cream, if you want a thicker, creamier soup? but this was plenty thick enough for me**

Meals 324-330

11/21 as we are deep into soup season, tonight i made one of my go-to favorites. broccoli cheese! this creamy bowl of deliciousness has both broccoli and cauliflower in it. plus carrots, celery and onion to add some wonderful flavor and extra veggies! i use a combination of cheddar and pepper jack cheese to give this wonderful puree a creamy texture and a little spice!

11/22 with tony being in town, we had to make our requisite stop at ford's fish shack for dinner! they make the most amazing grilled salmon. a perfect sear on the outside that adds a little snap when you bite into it. with the center being an ideal medium rare. i am amazed at how they get this beautiful fish so perfect every time we come here!!! i had mine on their chopped salad. a bed of cabbage and romaine tossed with cranberries, corn and an herbed ranch dressing. i never would  have guessed this combination of flavors would be so delicious!

11/23 it's thanksgiving eve!!! i've been busy in the kitchen all day prepping for tomorrow's feast. and we officially have no room in our fridge. so tony and i skipped over to ice house to meet some friends for a pre-holiday meal. this place is old-school classy. dark paneling with forest green decor. live jazz bands. a manhattan that can't be beat. and oysters! i splurged and had the oyster's rockefellar. so wonderful!!! not the cheapest place in town, but definitely good for a night out!

11/24 oh the most blessed wonderful nigh of the year!!!! the night of giving thanks. of enjoying a meal with friends and family. THANKSGIVING!!!!! once again tony and i opened our doors to anyone who was looking for a night of good conversation and massive amounts of food!!  to keep people's stomach's from growling while the turkey was finishing it's roasting time, i laid out a table of appetizers. a cranberry cheddar cheese ball served with green apples. spinach stuffing bites. a spicy red pepper jelly and goat cheese dip. and my personal favorite this year? sweet potato tater tots with a bbq ranch dipping sauce. so tasty!!!

for dinner we had enough food to satiate a small army. which is how it should be! mashed potatoes, bourbon sweet potatoes, cranberry relish, corn, green bean casserole, apple hawaiian bread stuffing, a mushroom gruyere tart, brussels sprouts. and of course.....macaroni and cheese!!!! and those are just the sides!

a thanksgiving isn't thanksgiving without roast turkey. and i was so happy with how this year's bird turned out! tender and juicy. with a hint of sage and thyme. i alway panic that the turkey will be dry. so far i've had the best luck with brining the night before, and then rubbing herbed butter under the skin of the turkey while  it roasts. and this bird was definitely a success!!! as good as the turkey was though, i know my audience. and i know they are ham people. so we had tender slices of honey slow-roasted ham as well! oh and the fresh made yeast rolls. just to have that smell in the house when people walk in, makes it worth the trouble of making them!

i have to give my thanks for all this wonderful food, and for the joy i have sharing with my friends and family. those that were here, and those that were not!!!!

11/25 holy leftovers. my fridge is a mountain of tupperware. in trying to work my way through the chaos, i made a simple (and wonderful) meal tonight. dicing the leftover ham and mixing it with the leftover macaroni and cheese. such a perfect combination!

11/26 gluttony: habitual greed or excess in eating. see also: "luther fest". have you heard of the luther burger? the monstrosity that is a cheddar bacon cheeseburger served with a krispy kreme glazed donut as the bun? oh yes....it exists.....and oh yes.....it is as absurd as it sounds. our friend and neighbor chuck decided to honor this urban food legend years ago and hosted a dinner where he served one to all the guests. rumor has it the entire party succumbed to epic food coma within an hour. and thus a tradition was born.

annually, chuck hosts "luther fest". a party where luther burgers are only the beginning. guests are encouraged to bring outrageous dishes that utilize twinkies, spam, bacon, more bacon, velveta and any other processed food you can think of. and if it can be fried? there are two deep friers ready to go at a moment's notice!!! i admit my weakness, i can only have 1/4 of one of these burgers, and then i'm out for the count. but i have seen some amazing acts of chowing at these events!!!

11/27 *sigh* it's back to facing the fridge of leftovers again tonight. after a few moments of reflection, i opted to go for a simple sandwich tonight. starting with one of the yeast rolls, i spread a little of the pepper jelly-goat cheese spread on each side. and then placed a few delicate pieces of turkey in the middle. i'm not sure which is better.....thanksgiving? or the thanksgiving leftovers????